By Gillian Wilson | Project Leader
Everyday in South Africa, rural women are fighting to survive sexual violence. South African’s constitution asserts that all citizens have the right to be free of abuse, but this right is perpetually violated!
To combat the problem of sexual violence, REACH is taking an educational approach by developing and implementing sensitization campaigns that will help change social patterns and raise awareness of women's rights issues, gender equality, and violence against women. Reach is also providing training and education programs to ensure that not only women, but men too are being empowered to become proactive in the struggle to end all sexual violence.
REACH recently initiated a South African Rural Women’s Day Campaign in partnership with the Rape Crisis Center and the Center for Rural Legal Studies. It was a day to honor rural women farmers who are often neglected from celebrations of women's days. However, the real goal was to explore problematic issues faced by rural women of today. Topics such as sexual harassment, and sexual violence, drug and alcohol abuse, teenage pregnancies, HIV/AIDS were all discussed to bring awareness of how critical the issue of sexual violence truly is. The campaign was also a means of exploring how well rural communities are dealing with these issues and to what extent are preventive measures being taken. 100 men and women showed their support by attending this event and participating in deliberations.
Though, REACH has successfully begun to change attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors related to violence against women, they still need your support. Donate today and help REACH protect women from exploitation and abuse!
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