The assistant Minister of Local Government, Botlogile Tshireletso, on Friday told parliament at the start of the commemoration of 16 Days of Activism to End Violence Against Women and Children that family is the very incubation in which all human beings get nurtured and molded.
Speaking on behalf of the Parliamentary Women caucus, Tshireletso said that this year’s theme, “From peace in the home to peace in the world: Let’s End violence against women and children”, is well placed. She said that without peace in the home, there is no hope of building a healthy, productive and peaceful nation.
Tshireletso added that a family is the first institution that is supposed to teach individuals ways of loving and understanding as well as prepare them to assume their places and roles in society as responsible citizens who are peaceful, productive and patriotic. She said that it is within a family where values that guide us throughout the journey of life are instilled.
Tshireletso urged the nation at large to play their part by preventing and rooting out violence against women and children where it exists. She pointed out that those who shy away from taking a stand and action are indirectly contributing and encouraging the violence.
By so doing, this makes it difficult for the nation to achieve its quest to build a safe and secure nation as well as a proud nation by the year 2016.This is because without peace and love in the family the society will at a later stage have to deal with dysfunctional individuals who are not an asset to their nation.
Tshireletso highlighted that it is very crucial for every child to grow up in a peaceful environment that nurtures his/her growth and well being.
As for the perpetrators, Tshireletso had a stern word for them to go through a stage of serious introspection and face the realities of why they are putting their families through such trauma. She encouraged them to “seek appropriate help because it is possible to turn a new leaf and it’s never late”.
The 16 days of activism to end violence against women and children is an international campaign that runs from the 25 November until the 10 of December.
