Enjoy your drink, but being under the influence is no excuse for acting violently towards women and children.
The #NoExcuse Movement was launched last year and runs during the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children Campaign (November 25 to December 10), with the aim of driving home the message that there is no excuse for gender-based violence.
Inaugural supporters of the five-year initiative are Carling Black Label and Takuwami Riime, a consortium of non-governmental and civic organisations that focuses on promoting positive change among South African men.
Talking to Vukani on Monday December 3, Carling Black Label brand manager Grant Pereira said: “#NoExcuse refers to there being no excuse for men to abuse, no excuse for men to stand by and do nothing when others abuse. The approach is aimed at fostering a culture of smart drinking amongst consumers and reducing the harmful use of alcohol.” The movement also launched the 16 Seconds of Silence through which men are challenged to show their commitment to ending gender-based violence in South Africa by recording themselves in a silent 16-second video and uploading it to social media.
Mr Pereira said the #NoExcuse and 16 Seconds of Silence campaigns followed their Soccer Songs for Change initiative which saw the lyrics of the soccer
anthem “Mas’hambe Nono” being changed to deliver “a passionate plea by women against gender-based violence”, and the launch of
the radio drama, Isizathu, which depicts the plight of a woman suffering gender-based violence at the hands of her husband, and the Champions for Change programme, through which men are provided with training to address gender-based violence in their communities.
