Women urged not to tolerate abuse |05 March 2014

Women have been urged not to tolerate abuse from their partners.

As for men, they have been advised to love their women, appreciate and valorise what they do.

The appeal was made by the Minister for Social Affairs, Community Development and Sports Vincent Meriton while officially launching a educational session on the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (Cedaw) organised by his ministry for principal secretaries and chief executives.

The session took place yesterday at the Seychelles Trading Company’s conference hall.

“Our session is in a way to bring home the elimination of discrimination against women,” said Minister Meriton in his opening remarks.

“In Africa I think we are the envy of other countries when it comes to gender equality but still there is so much road to travel particularly with regard to violence against women. Women are to be nurtured and loved – ‘fanm pa tanbour’. At the first sign of abuse my advice is to leave. You can stand on your own two feet, you can raise your children but do not tolerate abuse,” Minister Meriton told the audience, especially the women present.

And to the men he advised them to love their women, appreciate and valorise what they do.

He told the men that they should not think about their women only on special occasions like Valentine’s Day, wedding anniversaries or birthdays.

Concerning domestic violence, Minister Meriton said the government is working on a domestic violence act together with all partners so they can have an input into what it is we can do to protect and valorise our women, as it is key if we want to really achieve progress.

He made reference to this year’s theme for Women’s Day which is ‘Equality for Women means Progress for All’.

He reminded all that inputs of everyone concerned in that act will end result in a document that is “comprehensive, water tight and when put to the assembly we can have something that Seychelles can be proud of”.

Minister Meriton also talked about property rights which he said need commitments on the part of both men and women like in marriages, but there is also a need to look at our laws.

He noted that there is a problem with property rights in instances where people live in cohabitations which needs to be addressed.

On the value of the work women put in the family, the minister said that men take it as a ‘fait accompli’ that she should care for them and the children. He advised them that if we want to be progressive we need to relook at such habits.

Yesterday’s session also included a video screening of the Cedaw Convention, followed by a presentation on ‘Underlying Principles of the Cedaw’ by Mahrookh Pardiwalla and another one from the special adviser in the Social Affairs Department, Marie-Josée Bonne, on concluding Cedaw observations and pertinent articles which outline the rights of women.