As we have embarked to the sixteen days of activism against Gender based Violence from the 25 of November, the Beyond Zero in partnership with the Eastern Cape AIDS council launched the #BeyondSilence Human rights campaign together with the 16 days of activism walk from Moore Street to East London Absa stadium on the 28th of November. The focus of the launch was mainly at addressing the communities about the Gender based Violence, promotion of humans right equality and the stigma within the context of HIV, AIDS and TB as the victims tends to be discriminated to our communities.
The launch aligns with the GVB month and all the human’s rights violations were highlighted especially those that are targeted towards the key vulnerable populations.
Beyond Zero is a non profit organization that has recently turned 20 years, it has been implementing public health programs that are focusing on HIV and AIDS mostly around Eastern Cape were the headquarters are, however it is implementing the programs in seven out of the nine provinces which excludes the two Gauteng and Northern Cape. Currently the launch funded by the global fund grant for the year 2022 to 2025, its focus is on the combination of HIV prevention targeting the key and vulnerable population, these include Adolescent and young people both boy and girls between the ages of 10 to 25 years. It also implement programs that are focusing on men having sex with men and transgender people programs.
A programs director of BeyondZero, Bulumko Futshane clarified on the purpose of the launch that is aligned with the GBV month and said “as beyondzero we feel that we cannot archive the HIV prevention if we don’t address human rights violations, the reason we are here now is to launch a campaign, but for us it is broader than being a campaign but we trying to make sure that the voices of the people who are that are normally overlook are heard”.
A member of Beyondzero organizations, Minentle Mthiyane from Richard’s Bay said that he is grateful for the opportunity given by Mpilwenhle organization who gave him the opportunity to come and speak, share ideas and meeting new people. He continued and said “we are here to fight for our right especially as a youth and people that are in same sex relationship, we are here to fight gender based Violence and we are here to address to the authorities that they should take action and fight for us.
A 20 years of age girl and a member of beyondzero, Simnikiwe Njongela from East London said that it feels great to see people who are relating to the lives that they are in, and mostly the communities tend to not support LGBT (lesbians, gays, bisexual and transgender). She mentioned the role played by beyondzero and said “ the organization helps in supporting those that still wants to come out of the closet and give advice on how to deal with kinds of situations. I encourage people that are interested to come as beyondzero is a safe space to be”.