The increasing and alarming rate of abuse of women and children in KwaZulu-Natal in particular is of great concern to Diakonia Council of Churches, an organisation that works for social justice, and gender justice is an integral part of our core focus on social justice.
Beside getting local churches to reflect on issues of gender roles and gender-based violence, with transformative conversations and dialogues challenging the status quo, we also encourage men and women to be active in our Thursdays in Black Campaign.
The campaign is for everyone to commit to wearing black on Thursdays and a button as a sign of working towards a world without rape and violence. The campaign resonates with many who wear the button and black clothes every Thursday until there is no more rape and violence because gender-based violence touches a raw nerve and cuts across divides of age, race, class – to name a few.
While we appreciate the hype around Women’s Day on August 9 and on August as women’s month, the sad reality is that this will come and go and it will be business as usual. Hence for us at Diakonia Council of Churches the Thursdays in Black Campaign remains one of the most effective mechanisms for keeping the focus on gender-based violence alive throughout the year.
Nomabelu Mvambo-Dandala, Executive Director, Diakonia Council of Churches
Tuesday, 8 August 2017