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News that Oscar Pistorius could be set to serve as little as 10 months of his five year prison term for shooting dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day 2013 was met with shock by women’s rights groups today, who called for “robust and urgent action” to end violence against women.
By South African legal guidelines , this means the athlete, who was found guilty of the culpable homicide (the equivalent to manslaughter in the UK) in September, might carry out a shorter sentence for his violent crime than if he had been found guilty of two counts of breaking and entering, or of supplying illegal drugs.
"This case will set a precedent all around the world," Reeva Steenkamp’s British sister , Simone Cowburn, told the Daily Mail ahead of sentencing on Monday. "We do not want other men to get off just because Oscar Pistorius has. It is still homicide.
"If a man steals a block of cheese here, he can get 20 years and that is for theft. But if you take somebody's life like Oscar has, you can get house arrest. It is not right."
Cowburn’s sentiment was echoed by a number of leading organisations campaigning for tougher sentencing for perpetrators of domestic violence.
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in picturesShow all 53 1 /53Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Members of the South African Police Service with Oscar Pistorius in the back of an armoured police vehicle as he is transported away from the High Court in Pretoria
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius escorted by south African policemen enters a police van after being sentenced at the High Court in Pretoria
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius enters a police van after his sentencing at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius is lead away by police and into an armoured vehicle as he is transported away from the High Court in Pretoria
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius is escorted by south African policemen to a police vehicle to transported to prison at the High Court in Pretoria
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Reeva Steenkamp's parents Parents of Reeva Steenkamp leave the High Court in Pretoria after Oscar Pistorius was sentenced to 5 years in prison for shooting his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Pistorius leaves the Pretoria High Court after he is sentenced in Pretoria
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius is led out of court in Pretoria. Pistorius received a five-year prison sentence for culpable homicide by judge Thokozile Masipais for the killing of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius turns to leave the dock following his sentencing at the high court in Pretoria
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius holds the hands of uncle Arnold Pistorius and family members as he is taken down to the holding cells by South African police after being sentenced to five years imprisonment for the culpable homicide killing of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at the high court in Pretoria
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius embraced by his coach Ampie Louw before his sentencing on day six of sentencing procedures at the High Court in Pretoria
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Aimee Pistorius Oscar Pistorius's sister Aimee Pistorius looks on during sentencing of Oscar Pistorius at the High Court in Pretoria
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius listens to his judgement in the Pretoria High Court
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius stands in the dock as sentence is delivered at the High Court in Pretoria
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Judge Thokozile Masipa Judge Thokozile Masipa speaks during the last day of sentencing hearing of Oscar Pistorius at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Reeva Steenkamp's parents Reeva Steenkamp's parents June and Barry Steenkamp arrive in the Pretoria High Court for the last day of Oscar Pistorius sentencing
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius arrives in court on day six of sentencing procedures at the High Court in Pretoria
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius arrives for the last day of his sentencing at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius reacts during day five of sentencing procedures at the High Court in Pretoria
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius cries during his fifth day of sentencing hearing at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius wipes tears during his fifth day of sentencing hearing at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius in the dock during day four of sentencing procedures at the High Court in Pretoria
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius The sister of Oscar Pistorius, Aimee (L), sits next to her aunt Lois during his sentencing hearing at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius South African Judge Thokozile Masipa waits before the sentencing hearing of Oscar Pistorius at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius sits in court before the fourth day of sentencing proceedings in the high court in Pretoria
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius arrives for the fourth day of sentencing at North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius leaves the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius on day three of sentencing procedures at the High Court in Pretoria
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius is comforted by his lawyer Barry Roux, while listening to a family witness's account of her longstanding friendship with Reeva Steenkamp, during his sentencing proceedings at the high court in Pretoria
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Reeva Steenkamp's parents Barry Steenkamp, father of Reeva Steenkamp, is consoled by his wife June Steenkamp during the sentencing hearing of Oscar Pistorius at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius South African Olympic and Paralympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius arrives at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria. Pistorius returned to the court on the third day of sentencing procedures for the negligent killing of his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Reeva Steenkamp's parents June Steenkamp (front) and her husband Barry (L), parents of Reeva Steenkamp, arrive at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on the third day of Pistorius sentencing
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Carl and Aimee Pistorius Siblings Carl and Aimee Pistorius arrive at the High Court in Pretoria, as their brother Oscar Pistorius appears on the third day of the sentencing procedure
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius leaves the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria. He returned to the court for the second day of sentencing procedures for the negligent killing of his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures June Steenkamp June Steenkamp leaves the High Court in Pretoria
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Barry Steenkamp Barry Steenkamp leaves the High Court in Pretoria
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius sits in the Pretoria High Court on the second day of his sentencing
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Samantha Taylor and Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius makes his way past his ex girlfriend Samantha Taylor as he arrives in the Pretoria High Court for sentencing in his murder trial in Pretoria
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius and Carl Pistorius Oscar Pistorius hugs his brother Carl Pistorius as he arrives in the Pretoria High Court for the second day of sentencing in his murder trial
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Reeva Steenkamp's family Reeva Steenkamp's family arrive at the High Court for the second day of the sentencing of Oscar Pistorius murder trial in Pretoria
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures A supporter of the death penalty outside the court A supporter of the death penalty holds a noose outside the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius arrives at the High Court for the second day of sentencing in his murder trial in Pretoria
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius is greeted by an unidentified woman at the end of his first day of sentencing hearing at the High Court in Pretoria
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius looks down while his psychologist gives evidence during sentencing procedures on a charge of culpable homicide at the High Court in Pretoria
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures June Steenkamp Reeva Steenkamp's mother June Steenkamp during the sentencing of Osar Pistorius in the Pretoria High Court
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius arrives in court to face sentencing for the shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius talks to one of his defence lawyers at the High Court in Pretoria
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius sits after arriving for sentencing procedures on a charge of culpable homicide at the High Court in Pretoria
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Gerrie Nel Prosecutor Gerrie Nel cross-examines a witness during the court appearance of Oscar Pistorius in his sentencing on a charge of culpable homicide at the High Court in Pretoria
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures June Steenkamp June Steenkamp, the mother of Reeva Steenkamp arrives at High Court for the sentencing of Oscar Pistorius murder trial in Pretoria
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Barry Steenkamp Barry Steenkamp, father of Reeva Steenkamp, arrives ahead of the sentencing of Olympic and Paralympic track star Oscar Pistorius at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Barry Roux Barry Roux, Defence lawyer of Oscar Pistorius, arrives at the High Court in Pretoria
Oscar Pistorius: The sentencing in pictures Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius arrives at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria
"Violence against women is a global pandemic with one in three women experiencing violence in her lifetime," Bethan Cansfield, Policy Manager at Womankind Worldwide , told The Independent .
She added that although Womankind did not comment directly on individual cases of violence, "low levels of convictions and short sentencing given to perpetrators of violence against women is rampant across the world."
"This violates a woman’s right to justice and sends a strong message that states do not take violence seriously," she continued.
"As the Oscar Pistorius trial comes to an end, we hope governments across the globe take robust and urgent action to end violence against women. They should also increase support to women’s rights organisations which provide specialist support for women survivors of violence."
Polly Neate of Women’s Aid in Britain added that Pistorius’ sentence was "worryingly short" and declared strong sentences to be "essential" in showing perpetrators of such violent crimes that the law takes domestic violence seriously.
Parents of Reeva Steenkamp leave the High Court in Pretoria after Oscar Pistorius was sentenced to 5 years in prison The White Ribbon Campaign, which aims to end violence against women by encouraging men to support female victims, called for more prominent males to speak out when high profile cases, like the Pistorius trial, come to light.
"What concerns us is the substantial silence from men around the issue when prominent cases of sexual assault or domestic abuse occur," a spokesperson told The Independent .
"Silence is not an option. Silence excuses violence against women and girls. White Ribbon Campaign needs men to join the campaign listening to and as allies of women.
"We ask men to swear the pledge, wear the ribbon and share the message by becoming an ambassador and speaking out."
The 2014 White Ribbon campaign will mark 16 days of action. It will start on the UN International Day to Eradicate Violence against women (White Ribbon Day) on 25 November.
Visit WhiteRibbonCampaign.co.uk here for more information.
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