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13 November 2018 Photo Moeketsi Mogotsi
Campaigns are a loudhailer on violence
Kovsies took an active stance against sexual and gender-based violence through various campaigns in October.

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President Cyril Ramaphosa recently announced that South Africa will launch a national strategic plan to tackle gender-based violence (GBV) after years of lobbying by activists. Speaking at the Presidential GBV Summit, the head of state commended activists who called for a nationwide shut down in August in response to high levels of GBV and femicide in the country. He says the government is now reviewing national GBV plans and will develop a national action plan.

Activism at the UFS

One of the efforts launched by the University of the Free State’s (UFS) Gender and Sexual Equity (GSE) Office in the fight against this plague is the # RESPECTME campaign. From 11 to 26 October 2018, the university held its own 16 Days of Activism.

Geraldine Lengau of the GSE Office believes that minority groups deserve the same amount of respect as all other citizens of this country, which is the core concept of the campaign. “The Campaign is a loudhailer to say, ‘just because I am different from you’, be it gender or sexuality, it doesn’t mean that I deserve any less respect,” she highlighted.

Lengau added: “Activism will forever remain important on our campuses as it creates an environment where the community is made aware of matters that would otherwise not have mattered had they not been publicised. Also activism becomes all the more important in advancing the university’s strategic plan.”

Policies advocating against GBV

As stipulated in the UFS Sexual Harassment, Misconduct and Sexual Violence Policy the university strongly believes in the principle of human dignity that is entrenched in the Constitution of South Africa (1996) which resolves to ensure a safe working and study environment for students. 

Student Affairs also led a campaign which aimed to highlight the ongoing scourge of sexual and gender-based violence, in line with the policy. “The university is working relentlessly at endorsing the aspects and characteristic traits of respect amongst all of its stakeholders in an effort to reduce the notion of gender-based violence,” said the Dean of Student Affairs, Pura Mgolombane.

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International delegates rethink justice and righteousness at Theology conference
2015-09-07


Participants in the multidisciplinary conference hosted by the UFS Faculty of Theology, celebrated the 35th anniversary of the faculty with a festive dinner.

The Faculty of Theology at the University of the Free State (UFS) held a multidisciplinary conference from 24 to 26 August 2015, with the theme of ‘Re-thinking justice and righteousness in society’. A total of 26 papers were presented at the congress, with contributions from Theology, Economic and Management Sciences, the Humanities, and Law. Delegates from Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Belgium attended the conference, in addition to academics from the UFS.



Some of the keynote speakers at the international conference hosted by the UFS Faculty of Theology, ‘Re-thinking justice and righteousness in society’: Prof Fanie Snyman, Dean of the UFS Faculty of Theology, Rev Peter Awojobi, Rev Menard Musendekwa and Prof Ango Samuel.

“With this conference,” said Prof Fanie Snyman, Dean of the UFS Faculty of Theology, “we are positioning the faculty alongside other faculties whose insights and disciplines are important to Theology. A multidisciplinary forum also provides great possibilities for

cooperation across disciplines.”

The conference coincided with a visit to the UFS by students in the theological faculties at the Universities of Stellenbosch and Pretoria. These students attended some of the presentations, in addition to the other activities they were involved in.

The Faculty of Theology is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, making it not only the youngest faculty at the UFS, but also the youngest theology faculty in South Africa. In this time, the faculty has established itself as a significant role player within the theological landscape, with important agreements having been reached with theological institutions in Europe, the USA, and Africa.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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