Hon Deputy Speaker, may I begin by congratulating the Minister hon Lulu Xingwana on her appointment as Minister in the Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities. We wish her luck and success in her work. [Applause.]
Hon Deputy Speaker, once again South Africans and the international community will campaign for 16 days, calling for the elimination of all forms of violence against women.
Violence against women takes many forms: sexual assault, wife beating, prostitution, trafficking, sexual violence, sexual harassment and date rape. Violence against women also takes many other forms such as psychological, emotional and financial abuse, and also intimidation. All are unacceptable violations of human rights. Together they form a huge obstacle to gender equality and genuine human progress.
In South Africa, the sexual violation of children, women in general, women living with HIV/Aids, and lesbians is endemic. This heinous crime does not end there but, in some instances, leads to murder. The latest case is that of the murder of the British bride on honeymoon in South Africa. It's sad. It is very sad.
Women in South Africa are not safe anywhere. Recently, a doctor was gang- raped at her workplace and a schoolgirl was drugged and raped by school pupils. The sad part about the latter incident is that the alleged perpetrators were set free by the police because of questions from her peers about whether it was rape or not, as she was drunk. The question is: How she could not be drunk when she was drugged?
Women are scared to report sexual violence because they will be insulted and victimised in public. Women's rights are under threat and something needs to be done urgently.
Cope believes women have a right to report sexual violence and harassment without fear, no matter who the perpetrator is. It is also critical that women are able to speak out and share their ideas in order to challenge attitudes and beliefs that sustain violence against women.
Cope also calls for action to defend women's rights to freedom of expression and information which are the basic building blocks for women to be able to come together, organise for change, inform public debate, define culture, build safe spaces and end violence against women.
Cope invites all to take action to defend women's rights and the gains that we have made so far. I thank you. [Applause.]