Attridgeville - Giving up hope and fear is not an option.
This was the message from a victim and survivor of gender based violence who was speaking to mark the opening of this year's 16 Days Campaign.
Mathadi Rasodi, who was left blind due to physical abuse, encouraged women who packed Sausville to mark the start of the 16 Days of Activism for no Violence Against Women and Children campaign, encouraged abused women to be strong for their children.
"My story doesn't define who I am, I've managed to draw strength from the abuse ... it only managed to take my sight, but nothing else. I have hope to live.
"Our girl children are traumatised. Sometimes we forget that they learn from what ever happens to us, and if we are strong for them, they will learn to be strong and if we say no to abuse, they will also do the same," said Rasodi, a mother of two daughters, one born after the rape.
Rasodi urged government to install a hotline, where women can call after they were physically abused. Although she didn't want to tell her story all over again, she said the event made her strong and she learned to forgive hher abuser and forget her ordeal, even though it was hard at first.
Member of the National Multi-Party Women Caucus in Parliament, Beauty Dlulane, highlighted the need to take all legislation passed by Parliament to each and every government department and implement them especially in rural areas, where people are not aware of their rights.
"We also need to engage men on behaviours that lead to abuse," said Dlulane, adding that they have managed to stop the practice of forced marriage in the Eastern Cape, through communication with older men and AmaKhosi.
"We've started the campaign to educate people on the practice, telling them that it's not part of our culture ... now the challenge we are emphasizing is to take those young women back to their families."
