Transforming billboard highlights abuse
27 November 2009, 17:43
By Rizwana Sheik Umar
The 16 Days of Activism for no violence against women and children campaign has reached new heights in Durban - 25m, to be precise.
In a giant, first-time step to mark the campaign, the KZN Network for Violence Against Women has launched a multi-storey billboard in Durban's CBD.
Over the remainder of the campaign a series of pictures will appear on the billboard and in the Daily News in an attempt to draw attention to and stir debate around the elements that keep violence against women alive in the province.
Towering 25m in the air and 20m wide, the free-standing billboard, which will change during the next few days, is in the Gugu Dlamini Park at The Workshop.
It features a woman's face progressively reflecting the harm that is done when social norms around abuse are not challenged. These norms were researched by the KZN network over a series of campaigns, including a bus campaign earlier this year.
The massive board will serve as a focal point for the 16-day-long campaign and as a platform for members from the network to engage with the public. Mobile billboards will take the campaign to the outlying areas of Durban.
At the launch of the campaign, the network was saluted by acting mayor Councillor Zandile Gumede.
"This year, and for years to come, let us make the annual pilgrimage to the Gugu Dlamini Park in an all-out bid to raise the ugly head of HIV/Aids and speak out against the sexual violence and harassment that confronts our women and girls," said Gumede.
"Gugu Dlamini paid the supreme price with her life because she had the courage to declare her HIV status.
"Rather than living in denial and shame, she pronounced to the world that HIV/Aids was coming to us with its fury."
The international 16 Days campaign will end on December 10, International Human Rights Day.
The 16 Days of Activism for no violence against women and children campaign has reached new heights in Durban - 25m, to be precise.
In a giant, first-time step to mark the campaign, the KZN Network for Violence Against Women has launched a multi-storey billboard in Durban's CBD.
Over the remainder of the campaign a series of pictures will appear on the billboard and in the Daily News in an attempt to draw attention to and stir debate around the elements that keep violence against women alive in the province.
Towering 25m in the air and 20m wide, the free-standing billboard, which will change during the next few days, is in the Gugu Dlamini Park at The Workshop.
It features a woman's face progressively reflecting the harm that is done when social norms around abuse are not challenged. These norms were researched by the KZN network over a series of campaigns, including a bus campaign earlier this year.
The massive board will serve as a focal point for the 16-day-long campaign and as a platform for members from the network to engage with the public. Mobile billboards will take the campaign to the outlying areas of Durban.
At the launch of the campaign, the network was saluted by acting mayor Councillor Zandile Gumede.
"This year, and for years to come, let us make the annual pilgrimage to the Gugu Dlamini Park in an all-out bid to raise the ugly head of HIV/Aids and speak out against the sexual violence and harassment that confronts our women and girls," said Gumede.
"Gugu Dlamini paid the supreme price with her life because she had the courage to declare her HIV status.
"Rather than living in denial and shame, she pronounced to the world that HIV/Aids was coming to us with its fury."
The international 16 Days campaign will end on December 10, International Human Rights Day.
- This article was originally published on page 6 of The Daily News on November 27, 2009
Durban
