Lighting Up The Way For Public Education
On Gender Based Violence

Avon’s Light Up to Speak Out candle Lighting Ceremony Aims To
Mobilise South African Communities To Help Reduce Violence Against Women

According to the Medical Research Council (MRC), a woman is killed every eight hours by her male intimate partner and as many as one in every four South African women is in an abusive relationship. The statistics highlight a deep-rooted issue in our communities with research indicating that public education and awareness of gender based violence could play a significant role in reducing violence against women in the country. Iconic beauty company, Avon, has established an annual candle lighting ceremony to help mobilise local communities to stand against the abuse of women.

Aptly named the Light Up to Speak Out candle lighting ceremony, the event which is one of several public education and awareness activities launched by the company, will this year take place on Saturday, 4 June at the Bolivia Lodge in Polokwane.

It is characterised by uplifting live performances and the lighting of candles to signify hope. For R150 a ticket, attendees can expect to enjoy good food, outstanding live performances as well as a fabulous Avon goodie bag. In addition, attendees will be able to interact with Avon and People Opposing Women Abuse (POWA) with onsite counselling being offered.

“Proceeds from the ticket sales will go directly to People Opposing Women Abuse but more than that, we hope that what the community learns at the event will be spread across the region and help countless women out of abusive situations,” says Vicky Saunders-Flaherty, PR, Internal Communications & Corporate Affairs Manager of Avon Justine.

Capricorn FM and Bona Magazine are the official media partners for the event, helping to reach as many people as possible in Limpopo with education and awareness around gender-based violence. According to Gender Links' research, 77% percent of women in Limpopo province, 51% of women in Gauteng, 45% of women in the Western Cape and 36% of women in KwaZulu-Natal have experienced some form of violence (emotional, economic, physical or sexual) in their lifetime, both within and outside intimate relationships.

Read more: 
http://www.southafrica.info/services/rights/gender-051212.htm#.VxSk7dR97cs#ixzz46ASlXVR6