Cape Town - Tennis megastar Serena Williams says young boys should be included in conversations about rooting out domestic violence.
Williams spoke during the launch of the Purple Purse organisation’s national street art campaign, which aims to use murals to create awareness of domestic violence.
The 36-year-old said she derives strength from her nine-month-old baby daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jnr, to continue being a driving force behind Purple Purse, reports Associated Press.
“This issue is incredibly important to me,” Williams said in an interview on Wednesday.
“One in four women are affected by domestic violence, and 99 percent of them are affected by financial abuse. These numbers are completely staggering. As a mother this means even more to me.”
She emphasised that men should be educated about domestic violence while they’re still young boys.
“I think expanding the conversation to men and young boys is so important.
“This is a human rights issue, we should all be treated the same. With domestic abuse it doesn’t care what colour you are, what background you’re from.”
Williams also revealed she plans to compete in this year’s Wimbledon tournament.
Sources: apnews.com, nytimes.com, purplepurse.com