Responsibility lies with parents

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YES, International Women's Day has been acknowledged with the statement: "Time for action to end violence against women".

The theme is "The Gender Agenda: Gaining Momentum". Yet again, just days after the event, it all just seems to be history.

My main question is what stops attention and awareness from being on a daily basis rather than a once-off campaign that ends up only in convention centres, and not the grassroots level where it is needed most.

Violence against women and children, as the most vulnerable in society, has reached unprecedented and alarming proportions. The finger-pointing applies to us all. Our approach to dealing with rape in South Africa has been so one-sided.

With freedom come rights as enshrined in the constitution, but the responsibility part of it never talked about.

When a minor is raped, prosecutors must also investigate the possibility of negligence on the part of the parent or guardian.

Resources are spent in building fences, fitting burglar bars and other security systems to guard our earthly possessions.

Yet we fail to institute moral and ethical principles such as: "When I lock my doors to go to bed, every child that lives under my roof must also be under my protection until I reopen."

Nobody should stand by idly while children go out at night to places where admission is for those over 18, as happened in the case of Anene Booysen.

And when that does happen, it seems that there is no law enforcement to ensure that children do not frequent taverns and clubs.

We owe it to ourselves to protect our children from evil at all costs. Charity does not only begin at home when it comes to food. Courtesy, protocol and discipline are values that can never be quantified.

Ignorance of crime for whatever reason in South Africa on the part of some parents is a major cause for concern.

The charity of responsibility begins at home, not in the shebeens or night clubs.