WORLD AIDS DAY

What do World AIDS Day and COVID-19 have in common? They are both global pandemics that have caused countless lives to be lost and demand that we “keep on being responsible”.

Every year, on 1 December, Exxaro joins the global community to commemorate World AIDS Day, helping to raise awareness for the fight against HIV/AIDS and show support for lives lost to this ongoing pandemic.

This year, the Business Units took the opportunity to light a candle and pay tribute to the many lives that have also been lost due to COVID-19, while encouraging people to “keep on being responsible” in their daily lives.

EXXARO HOSTS ONLINE EVENT TO MARK
16 DAYS OF  ACTIVISM 2021

Exxaro showed its support for the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children Campaign by hosting an online event that brought both victim and perpetrator together on one platform, creating awareness and support for the GBV pandemic.

In line with the 2021 theme “moving from awareness to accountability”, the two guest speakers spoke openly about how they are taking accountability for their lives and actions.

The first speaker was veteran actor and GBV activist, Patrick Shai, a reformed perpetrator of domestic violence, who shared his journey to recovery, calling on men to address the emotional trauma that too often gets passed down from generation to generation.

His story was followed by Mara Glennie, the Founder and Director of the TEARS Foundation, who managed to turn her years of intimate partner abuse into a lifeline that now offers hope and healing to other victims of abuse.

How did Exxaro support the fight against GBV in 2021?

  • Exxaro contributed R3.5 million to the President’s Gender-Based Violence & Femicide Response Fund.
  • We were included in the Bloomberg 2021 Gender-Equality Index (GEI), in recognition of our efforts to fight GBV and promote gender equality in the workplace.
  • We partnered with the TEARS Foundation, helping to give more victims of GBV and abuse access to crisis intervention, advocacy, counselling and support.

What is 16 Days of Activism?

The 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children Campaign (16 Days Campaign) is a United Nations campaign which takes place annually to create awareness and unity around the scourge of abuse against our women and children.

The 16 days runs from 25 November (International Day of No Violence against Women) until 10 December (International Human Rights Day).

Other key days during this period include:

1 December: World Aids Day

3 December: International Day
for Persons with Disabilities

10 December: International
Human Rights Day

Need help or support? Call the (free) Tears SMS helpline on *134*7355#

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