Gender-based violence (GBV) against women and children is a world-wide problem and sadly very prevalent in South Africa where pandemic proportions have been reached.
Statistics released by Statistics South Africa after the first-ever national GBV survey conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council in 2022 reveal that more than 33% of South African women have experienced physical abuse in their lifetime, while 9,8% have faced sexual violence. That equates to approximately 7,3 million women who have experienced physical abuse and 2,1 million sexual abuse.
These shocking statistics emphasize the importance of the annual worldwide 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children campaign, which started on 25 November.
This campaign was brought into being by the Women’s Global Leadership Institute at Rutgers University, New Jersey, USA, in 1991, and since then more than 6 000 organisations from 187 countries have participated in the campaign which now also features on the annual calendar of the United Nations.
In the Theewaterskloof municipal area the official launch of the 16 Days of Activism campaign was preceded by three town-based workshops held in Grabouw, Villiersdorp and Genadendal, where stories of survival were shared with more than 100 participants. These stories were shared with the hope that they would encourage and empower those who might find themselves in similar situations of abuse, trauma and violence.
Joanna Marzec-Visagie, manager of Sustainable Development at TWK, said: “These workshops were intended to provide inspiration and a sense of empowerment as well as sufficient practical information from local agencies working in the GBV space, to equip anyone looking to change their circumstances and free themselves from their perpetrators.”
Sgt Tembinkosi Gweyi, social-crime prevention officer at Caledon police, urged victims of violent crime to get a protection order against their perpetrator. He also mentioned that often victims withdraw their charges against the perpetrator and advised them not to do that. The campaign highlights three decades of progress, challenges and the ongoing need for solidarity in our efforts to create a safer environment for all. It calls on individuals, communities and organisations to unite in their commitment to ending GBV through awareness, advocacy and actionable strategies.
Acting Town Manager Edwin Marthinus was the programme director for the event, which included speakers from ODM, Department of Social Development, Department of Health, police, House of Hope: Caledon and more.