9 399 VIOLENCE CASES DURING LOCKDOWN

PIGG’S PEAK – The number of abuse cases skyrocketed during the national emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This was revealed by the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM), Themba Masuku yesterday at the launch of 16 Days of Activism against gender-Based Violence (GBV) Campaign. The ceremony was held at the Gobolondlo Hall in Pigg’s Peak. The event was organised in collaboration with the Pigg’s Peak municipality.  

Continued

Masuku revealed that violence cases continued to rise in the advent of COVID-19. He said the reported cases recorded from January to September in 2020 had increased from 1 420 to 9 399. This means that at least 1 000 people became victims of violence every month.

 That is equivalent to about 33 people daily.  “It is true for many countries, including Eswatini, that COVID-19 has worsened the situation and weakened systems for the protection of vulnerable populations from all forms of violence, especially domestic violence against women and children, in particular adolescent girls and young women,” said Masuku.

He noted that during the period of the national emergency, restrictions were set and this confined many families in one place. He said this forced many abused women and children to be grounded with their abusers. 

Awareness

He said the purpose of the 16 Days of activism against GBV was creating an awareness to end violence. He said every year, such gatherings were an acknowledgement of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly declaration of November 25 - December 10 as the ‘16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence’.

The DPM also said, instead of preaching peace as Jesus did, some churches were places of violence. He said violence and segregation was rife in churches. 

He made an example of a girl who was ordered to leave a church because she had worn a pair of trousers. 

The DPM said some church teachings may have been appropriate in the past but said times had changed. 

Using his home as an example, the DPM said there were no male and female roles in his home since everyone performed the same duties.

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