Cape Town — Many more citizens will be reached in the 365 Days of Activism campaign, which the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children could not reach in its usual time period of November and December

National Convener of 16 Days, Deputy Minister for Provincial and Local Government Nomatyala Hangana said over the years, the 16 Days campaign had heightened awareness around the area, but could be improved upon.

"In the past year, in particular, it was good to hear how many people had, for the first time, become aware of these issues through the 16 Days Campaign," she said Tuesday at the unveiling of the extended year-long campaign.

The campaign had also successfully placed the issue of women and children's plight firmly on the national agenda.

"The awareness aspect has also made people understand that gender-based violence is not an issue to be put under the carpet. Silence is our worst enemy in fighting the scourge," said the deputy minister.

One of the shortfalls was that 16 Days did not reach, to the extent that was needed, the areas where the most vulnerable lived, such as farm-workers and those who lived in rural and informal areas.

"Some of us are lucky. We live behind burglar bars.

"But when you hear stories of women and children who live in shacks with no electricity and no ablution facilities, who have to go to a veld in the middle of the night to go to the toilet, you realise how frightening life must be for these women and children. How vulnerable they are to abuse," Ms Hangana said.

"We have started to empower these women and children by educating them, as well as the men in the communities, but there are shortcomings and they are the most vulnerable who I feel still need to be reached."

It was hoped that the 365 Days Plan, a National Action Plan as part of a year-long programme of 16 Days of Activism, would reach out even more to these, the most vulnerable.

The 16 Days Campaign had, however, managed to make some strides in getting traditional leadership to understand the importance of their involvement in the campaign, especially in the rural areas.

"They have indeed committed themselves to this fight and that has been one of our successes," said Ms Hangana.

Men also needed to continue to come aboard in the fight against violence against women and children.

Many groups had already joined the campaign.

"It has been one of the most crucial steps we have taken, as men will be key players in our behavioural change initiatives," said the deputy minister.

It was also critical because male involvement gave the often neglected boy child a positive role model, so that they knew from a young age what constituted normal male behaviour.

"We need to hear the voices of men. We need to feel the energy of good men. This is vitally important," said Advocate Thoko Majokweni, chief executive officer of the Interdepartmental Management Team.

She also spoke about the Sexual Offences Bill, which was hoped to become part of legislation this year.

"We need education programmes around this once it becomes legislation, to help people understand sexual violence as an offence. We need to get the definition issue settled and help communities understand what constitutes sexual violence.

"In some areas abnormal behaviour has become to be viewed as normal. We need to bring awareness to the people, to these communities. We need to get communities to support prevention," said Advocate Majokweni.

The last 16 Days Campaign had a number of successes.

Amongst them was the Postcard Campaign and the SMS initiatives that managed to raise close to R100 000 so far - funds used to help sustain organizations helping women and children.

Also, the Department of Public Enterprises together with the State Owned Enterprises donated R1.6 million to this end.

The 16 Days Campaign also managed to cross borders and join the fight with other southern African countries.

Areas that needed to be addressed in the future were mechanisms to drive the campaign into the future, prevention and ways to turn victims into survivors as well as get corrective programmes for offenders going.