Deputy Speaker, hon members, the debate on the 16 Days of Activism Against Violence on Women and Children follows the official launch of this campaign by the President few days ago in Lephalale, Limpopo. During this launch, the President alluded to the fact that the crisis of violence against women and children is a great shame on our nation. It goes against our African values and everything we stand for as a people. We grew up knowing that men and boys respect women and protect children. Boys and men were taught to never, ever raise their hand against a woman. But that way seems to have been lost by some men in our society.
Again, this debate comes at the hills of the Joint Sitting called by the President in September following what he referred to as a very violent and brutal war which is underway against the women of South Africa.
The President further outlined that the government has developed Emergency Action Plan to address the crisis of gender-based violence. He outlined the five principal areas as measures to strengthen the existing interventions as well as introducing new measures. Among