Saartjie Baartman Partnership Calls For South African Govt Action Against Xenophobia
With reports of increased violence against foreign nationals from the African continent, making the rounds again, and those who are able to flee packing their belongings and trying to get back to their countries of origin, the Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and hildren’s Shelter has again received requests to house women and children should the attacks be of such a nature that there is a need.
During the 2008 spate of xenophobic violence the Centre housed approximately 60 women and children , for varying periods of time, until they could be re-united with other family members and members of their communities.
The 2008 attacks subsided after two weeks. At the end of this period 62 people were dead (including 21 South Africans); at least 670 wounded; dozens of women raped; at least 100 000 persons displaced and property worth millions of Rands looted, destroyed or seized
In the aftermath of the attacks there was a range of responses from political and community leaders, scholars, media and civil society. Various accounts and explanations regarding the root and immediate causes, as well as ‘appropriate strategies’ for short, medium and long-term interventions, were given. However, there were no local nor national government initiatives dedicated to preparing potentially hostile communities for the return or reintegration of displaced non-nationals. There were also no systematic efforts to hold accountable those responsible for the violence.
The partnership at the Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children Partnership comprising ten organisations worked towards the eradication of violence against women and children.
Th partnership works in both urban and rural settings as well as in the Southern Africa region. Its programmes address physical and emotional wellness and safety as well as education and training.
The Saartjie Baartman Partnership said it strongly demands that the South African government and Chapter Nine Institutions responsible for protecting human and women’s rights and convene an urgent summit to discuss not only the potential causes of xenophobic violence and explore possible preventative strategies, and to address the use of violence to solve all social and economic conflict amongst people living in South Africa but also to ensure that there is a strategy in place to deal with such a crisis .
The partnership said the south africa goevrment must have strategies in place, for effective policing and prevention of xenophobic violence – draw on the successful policing strategies used during the FIFA World Cup, provide places of safety for all victims (direct and indirect) of xenophobic violence and ensure there is special provision and services available for particularly women, children and other vulnerable groups.
National and local government must assist existing NGO’s and CBO’s which provide services to victims of violence and that there should be effective prosecution of perpetrators of xenophobic violence. The partnership said the government service providers such as police and hospitals must also keep accurate records of incidents of xenophobic violence
With reports of increased violence against foreign nationals from the African continent, making the rounds again, and those who are able to flee packing their belongings and trying to get back to their countries of origin, the Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and hildren’s Shelter has again received requests to house women and children should the attacks be of such a nature that there is a need.
During the 2008 spate of xenophobic violence the Centre housed approximately 60 women and children , for varying periods of time, until they could be re-united with other family members and members of their communities.
The 2008 attacks subsided after two weeks. At the end of this period 62 people were dead (including 21 South Africans); at least 670 wounded; dozens of women raped; at least 100 000 persons displaced and property worth millions of Rands looted, destroyed or seized
In the aftermath of the attacks there was a range of responses from political and community leaders, scholars, media and civil society. Various accounts and explanations regarding the root and immediate causes, as well as ‘appropriate strategies’ for short, medium and long-term interventions, were given. However, there were no local nor national government initiatives dedicated to preparing potentially hostile communities for the return or reintegration of displaced non-nationals. There were also no systematic efforts to hold accountable those responsible for the violence.
The partnership at the Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children Partnership comprising ten organisations worked towards the eradication of violence against women and children.
Th partnership works in both urban and rural settings as well as in the Southern Africa region. Its programmes address physical and emotional wellness and safety as well as education and training.
The Saartjie Baartman Partnership said it strongly demands that the South African government and Chapter Nine Institutions responsible for protecting human and women’s rights and convene an urgent summit to discuss not only the potential causes of xenophobic violence and explore possible preventative strategies, and to address the use of violence to solve all social and economic conflict amongst people living in South Africa but also to ensure that there is a strategy in place to deal with such a crisis .
The partnership said the south africa goevrment must have strategies in place, for effective policing and prevention of xenophobic violence – draw on the successful policing strategies used during the FIFA World Cup, provide places of safety for all victims (direct and indirect) of xenophobic violence and ensure there is special provision and services available for particularly women, children and other vulnerable groups.
National and local government must assist existing NGO’s and CBO’s which provide services to victims of violence and that there should be effective prosecution of perpetrators of xenophobic violence. The partnership said the government service providers such as police and hospitals must also keep accurate records of incidents of xenophobic violence
