16 Days of Activism begins as South Africa elevates GBV to national disaster status

As recently as last Friday, gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) was declared a national disaster in South Africa by the National Disaster Management Centre.

After evaluating “the persistent and immediate life-safety risks posed by ongoing acts of violence”, the centre concluded GBVF met the legal requirements as defined in the Disaster Management Act for this declaration.

South Africa has one of the world’s highest femicide rates, with United Nations (UN) Women estimating it is five times higher than the global average.

In South Africa, statistics show one in three women experiencing physical violence in their lifetime, 9.8% experiencing sexual violence, and 24% experiencing physical violence or sexual violence by an intimate partner. Other forms of abuse include emotional, economic and psychological abuse, which are often underreported.

16 Days campaign raises awareness

To raise awareness of the devastating and widespread impact GBVF has on individuals, families and communities, the United Nations campaign – 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children – takes place annually from 25 November to 10 December.

This year’s campaign will mark the 27th anniversary since its adoption. Over the years it has raised awareness of GBVF’s devastating impact, its societal and systemic causes, and calls for action at local, national and international levels to eliminate all forms of GBVF.

In South Africa, this year’s 16 Days Campaign takes place under the theme “Letsema: Men, Women, Boys and Girls working together to end Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF)”.

Individuals, communities and organisations can get involved in the 16 Days Campaign through several actions.

Campaign ideas for individuals and families

• Report abusers: Reject and report abusers – act and do not look away.
• Stop abuse: Do not engage in abusive activities and become an abuser.
• Values: Teach children values of gender equality.
• Protect children from exposure to violence and harmful content on the internet and social media, including pornography and sexual solicitation.
• Educate on online safety: Teach children about online safety to protect them from harmful content on the internet and social media.
• Seek personal help to change harmful behaviour such as alcohol and substance abuse.
• Involve men and boys in conversations about gender equality and non-violence.
• Support survivors: Be sensitive and supportive to victims, and share information about local support causes and resources.
• Challenge harmful norms: Challenge cultures and practices that perpetuate gender inequalities and consequent abuse of women and children at personal and societal level.
• Address online violence: Focus campaigns on ending digital violence, including harmful online content and cyber-solicitation.
• Assist older women to be aware of their rights, to build community networks, and involve civil society and faith-based organisations.

Campaign ideas for communities and organisations

• Community dialogues: Organise targeted outreach and discussions to find local solutions for a gender-equal society.
• Workplace and sector policies: Develop policies within your sector or workplace to prevent and address GBV.
• Public awareness: Raise awareness through social media campaigns, public events and educational materials that challenge gender stereotypes.
• Support organisations: Fund and support women’s rights organisations and movements that provide real resources for survivors.
• Promote empowerment: Implement programmes that promote women’s empowerment and education on non-violence and equality.
• Engage tech companies: Advocate for tech companies to create safer online spaces by hiring more women, removing harmful content quickly and responding to abuse reports.

Types of violence and abuse include:

Physical: According to a survey by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), a third of South African women over the age of 18 had experienced physical violence in their lifetime, and in most cases the violence was caused by an intimate partner. Physical violence includes the intentional application of force to another person and assault with the intent to cause bodily harm.

Psychological and emotional: Another common type of violence or abuse experienced by women in South Africa is psychological and emotional. This includes verbal insults, harassment and coercion, including controlling behaviour.

Economic abuse includes the unreasonable deprivation of economic or financial resources, which a victim was legally entitled to or required out of necessity.

Sexual violence is the forcing, manipulation or coercion of someone into a sexual act against their will.

Violence against women with disabilities are one of the poorest populations in the world, said Dr Ingrid van der Heijden, a research consultant in inclusive sexual and reproductive health. “The risk of lifetime GBV for women with disabilities increases with the severity of their disability.” Those with disabilities faced higher risks of violence and twice as much sexual violence than those without disabilities.

Violence against older women also face extreme violence, including financial and physical abuse. Abuse often takes place in multigenerational settings where perpetrators are family members, such as children and grandchildren. The strongest risk for abuse is in families where children or grandchildren abuse substances. Other risk factors at the individual level include frailty, dementia, possession of assets (money, goods), technology challenges (leading to financial exploitation) and a lack of awareness of one’s legal rights.

The LGBTQIA+ community often faces intensified vulnerability despite the country’s strong constitutional protections. Many are rejected or abused by family, friends, partners or religious communities, which can lead to homelessness, mental health challenges and substance use. Decreasing the vulnerability of women in the LGBTQIA+ community requires a four-pronged approach that includes personal development, psycho-social support, physical health and wellness, and reintegration.

• Other key commemorative days during the 16 Days Campaign include the International Day of No Violence against Women (25 November), World AIDS Day (1 December), International Day for Persons with Disabilities (3 December) and International Human Rights Day (10 December). All of these commemorative days are linked to GBVF.

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