MTN SA Foundation officially launches 16 Days of Activism

Thursday, 25 November sees the country coming together for the official launch of the national campaign, 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children. The campaign will run until 10 December 2010.

MTN SA Foundation begins its planned programme at Johannesburg Prison (Sun City). This is a follow-up from a pledge made at the MTN Women's Day event in August, where ordinary women promised their support to bring gifts to the women incarcerated in the prison.

The 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children is a United Nations campaign that takes place annually from 25 November (International Day of No Violence against Women) until 10 December (International Human Rights Day). Since 1999, the South African government has run a parallel campaign that includes issues relating to violence against children. This campaign focuses primarily on generating an increased awareness of the negative impact of violence on women and children, as well as on society as a whole.

Says Eunice Maluleke, Head of MTN SA Foundation: “At the Women's Day event back in August, we encouraged our fellow colleagues to volunteer their services and donate their time to help women and children, particularly those who are incarcerated. As a society we need to take care of one another. Women need to be empowered to be truly free and independent.”

There are a number of activities planned for the campaign in which the MTN SA Foundation will be participating. On 1 December (World Aids Day), a candlelight ceremony will be held at MTN Head Office where a speaker, who is affected by HIV, will share her story in an effort to encourage everyone who does not know his or her status to get tested and understand that HIV/AIDS is not a death sentence.

“Women in our country still face a number of challenges. These range from sexual discrimination to the abuse, sometimes physical, at the hands of their partners. Women are providers and when there's no food at home, children ask their mothers. Let us all help by supporting those women in need to be the providers for their families,” concludes Maluleke.

For more media information, please contact:

Ntombi Mhangwani - MTN SA E-mail: [email protected] / Cell: 083 200 5090

Zenzele Bam - Baird's Email: [email protected] / Cell: 083 272 6391