Times Of Swaziland: NOT IN OUR NAMES!

NOT IN OUR NAMES!
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By Nathi Gule on 28/11/2020 11:43:00


The 16 days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence began this past Wednesday
and hopefully this year it will have a bigger impact because GBV continues to be
indzaba yetfu sonkhe (an issue that affects us all).
Earlier this week my mind was focused on sharing my views on the trending
explicit videos featuring young women on social media that have divided so much
opinion, but upon realising that the important 16 days of activism against GBV
had started, I felt this was more urgent.
We need to address the root causes of societal issues than simply be mere
spectators providing impactless commentary. So campaigns like the 16 days have
set objectives and deliverables aimed at trying to weed out the bad that is
within society and need to be supported by everyone and every organization.
Two of the catch phrases that caught my attention were ‘Not in my name!’ and
‘Not under my watch.’  It is also taking place under the 2020 global theme:
“Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect!” I love the respond and
prevent pillars which speak to the two catch phrases earlier shared. Under my
watch I pledge that I will not allow any Gender Based Violence to take place or
to go unreported. And I also pledge that there shall be no GBV incident that
will happen in my name. We all have the power to restrain ourselves from
violence and to use other means of conflict resolution than the illegal GBV
which harms many.
These themes are bold and intentional statements and should translate to action
and create a better society for our children, sisters, mothers, friends and
associates.
resolve
It is sad that despite all the campaigns, some people still see violence as a
means to resolve issues. Violence cannot and has never resolved any issue. It
can instill momentary fear on others but it will not bring about a permanent
amicable solution to anything. If we were each asked to share one story related
to GBV, we would probably have more than one, and that is one too many. We need
to be able to live peacefully together regardless of gender.
To give a bit of background about this day as sourced from the UN Women, a
department I once visited during a study tour adventure in New York; the 16 Days
of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign
that kicked off on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of
Violence against Women, and runs until December 10, Human Rights Day.
It was started by activists at the inaugural Women’s Global Leadership
Institute in 1991 and continues to be coordinated each year by the Center for
Women’s Global Leadership.
It is used as an organising strategy by individuals and organisations around the
world to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and
girls.
connection
Speaking during the Commemoration of the International Day of Elimination of
Violence Against Women on Wednesday, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Women Executive
Director, said they noted a close connection between the COVID-19 pandemic and
the rise in reported violence of all kinds. She disclosed that it had been
dubbed the Shadow Pandemic. In her powerful statement she said, we have to shift
the stereotypes and attitudes that shame survivors and normalise and excuse the
perpetrators. She reiterated the involvement of everyone in the fight saying we
must engage allies in this, including men and boys.
She noted that while a virus is indiscriminate, a man or boy can choose not to
be violent and society can guide him not to be violent and hold him accountable
if he is. This is quite true. It is a choice.
“All these interventions must occur concurrently, continuously, in
collaboration, and at scale to succeed. The economics of violence are simple and
devastating. No one gains. Everyone loses, and we have to turn this around,”
she said.
Indeed the interventions must be continuous as I once appealed that while the
campaign must continue we must also have a concurrent one of 365 days against
GBV. Also the Executive Director noted that there has never been a more
important moment to resolve to put our combined resources and commitment behind
the biggest issues, and to end violence against women and girls, for good. “We
know what it takes to fight a pandemic. Now we need the will to do it, and with
Generation Equality, lead the way,” she said. That is why we all need to
pledge in unity that “Not in our name” will a person be abused or violated.
Not under our watch will anyone abuse another without us taking action or at
least reporting them to the police. If we make these two phrases our guiding
mantras, we can edge closer to uprooting these weeds threatening our wonderful,
peaceful humanity.