CIVIL society organisations launched a national unity campaign aimed at collecting a million signed pledges against xenophobia, intolerance, intimidation and violence.
Black Sash, Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town, Sonke Gender Justice Network and Passop, along with other community organisations kicked off the ‘Unite as One’ campaign in Du Noon, Cape Town – the epicentre of xenophobic violence in 2008.
They called on leaders in government, business and civil society as well as individual South Africans to intensify their efforts to build a country in which people, in spite of their language or country of origin, respect each other and live together peacefully.
The ‘Unite as One’ campaign was launched to coincide with Mandela Day (July 18) and will run until African Human Rights Day on October 17.
Black Sash Advocacy Programme manager Nkosikhulule Nyembezi says they hope to build on the incredible sense of African unity experienced during the World Cup. “We have proved we are a winning nation who can achieve anything if we work together. Now we must work to win human dignity and protection for all those who seek shelter in our land,” says Nyembezi.
The four organisations have set up a website – www.uniteasone.org.za – and a facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/unite.as.one - so people can sign the pledge online or download copies to circulate amongst their networks.
