Women vow to break silence on abuse

Mlambo-Ngcuka and the ANCWL have condemned attacks on people from other countries in South Africa

A coalition of women's groups representing government, civil society and youth formations have vowed to break the silence against women and children abuse.

The women met at the Sedibeng College in Vereeniging today to empower and learn from each other. The meeting is part of United Nations Women's Day celebrations held under the theme "Investing in Women and Girls." They say acts of immorality and ill discipline among young people are holding back South Africa's total emancipation. The celebrations were hosted by the SAPS Women's Network. One of the participants Diana Msimango, a Social Worker at the SAPS says women must play a building role in their home and community.

Around the world, there has been a call for women to fight for gender rights and equality on International Women's Day. Worldwide women took to the streets to pledge their solidarity with the same theme. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka the deputy president says as women, mothers, daughters and girls it's no secret that in South Africa emancipation remains uppermost in their minds and very high on the agenda of the nation.

Internationally scores of women called for peace in Gaza, urging the Israeli government to stop its attacks on the Hamas-controlled territory. Over 4000 rural Indian women and surrounding villages celebrated their achievements in co-operative farming. Through this initiative they empower each other and the profits are used to support their families.

In Dubai people are lured with the promise of a better life, yet recently there has been an alarming increase in human trafficking. Cases have increased from one a month to one a day. The city of hope provides a safe haven for many victims -a reminder that women everywhere share similar struggles of survival, as they commemorate the fight for their rights.