SIXTEEN Days of Activism for no violence against women and children was launched in Oudtshoorn yesterday when hundreds of Bridgeton residents put their painted hand prints on two massive white banners to be set up at the entrance to the town.

“Women and children, especially girls, have for too long been the victims of violence, rape and humiliation,” Mayor Diane de Jager said. “We cannot keep quiet any more. We will have to make our voices heard from Oudtshoorn to Cape Town to the north of the country.”

She said with violence one could “destroy a palace but not even build a pigsty”. The campaign was a call to unite and change the image of the country.

“We are your equals and we demand recognition? We are the mothers of your children, the daughters of your parents and your sisters. We are the builders of the future,” the mayor told the town’s men.

Hester Harman, who served time in jail after stabbing her abusive boyfriend to death during an argument, called on women not to remain silent when they were assaulted by their partners. “We tend to keep quiet and it affects our children ... our big problem is that we don’t want to get involved. It is your duty to become involved,” she told the community.