Southern Africa: Uniting to end Gender Violence

Johannesburg, November 24, 2024: Gender Links (GL) and partners join the global community in saying “no” to gender violence with a concerted, multi-faceted campaign that moves from evidence to action during this Sixteen Days of Activism.

The Sixteen Days spans the period from 25 November, International Day for the Eradication of Violence Against Women, to 10 December, International Human Rights Day. Other key dates during this period include 1 December (International AIDS Day); 3 December (International Day of Persons with Disabilities) and 6 December (commemoration of the Montreal Massacre) a day to reflect on the role of men.

GL, in partnership with the Voice and Choice Fund Southern Africa; Women Voice and Leadership South Africa, Women of the South Speak Out (WOSSO) and partner organisations will celebrate the Sixteen Days of Activism 2024 under the UN theme “Towards Beijing +30: Unite to End Violence Against Women and Girls”. The full line up of activities can be found here.

The 2024 Voice and Choice Barometer provides a powerful evidence base for the 2024 campaign. Various chapters will be referred to in blogs, marches and webinars.

The campaign kicked off on Women’s Entrepreneurship Day on 21 November with a reminder by partners in the South Africa based Sunrise campaign of the link between economic empowerment and sustainable solutions to GBV.

The Irene M. Staehelin (IMS) Foundation based in Switzerland is supporting the Sunrise (entrepreneurship) project in ten municipalities spread across four provinces of South Africa. The GL Sunrise entrepreneurs interacted with IMS Board Members during this event. For more on the current phase of the campaign in South Africa you can download our pamphlet here and view the profiles of some of the participants here.

From 25 November to 10 December, GL and partners will host six webinars from 12.30 to 14.00 SATS (see information on how to register under each day here).

• On 25 November, GL will commemorate International Day of Non-Violence Against Women with a focus on the inclusion of technology in the GBV service system; access to services for survivors in rural areas. VCSAF grantees and WOSSO Fellows from Southern Africa, will reflect on the findings of the 2024 Barometer GBV chapter and share their advocacy plans.
• Unsafe Abortion is a form of GBV. The Safe Abortion Alliance of Southern Africa (SAASA) will meet to devise a regional advocacy strategy from the 26^th to the 28^th of November, building on the submission made to the SADC Parliamentary Forum. A panel of experts will host a webinar on 28 November.
• GL will commemorate World AIDS Day on 29 November (as 1 December falls on a Sunday), honouring lives lost through AIDS with a candle-lighting ceremony. The Barometer chapter author will present key findings while partners share case studies.
• On the 3rd of December, GL will be celebrating the International Day for Persons with Disabilities under the theme “Amplifying leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive & sustainable future’’. Experts in this field, as well as persons with disabilities, will lead in the discussions. Deliberations in this area will include limitations in terms of access to service as well as psychological impact.
• The December 6 webinar will focus on Men and Masculinity under the theme: Men Championing Change. Discussions on Men Leading Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) will take place during the webinar, including a presentation on grooming boys to stand against societal gender norms. There will be discussions on ways that everyone, regardless of gender, support men in leadership roles, including traditional leaders, as they promote women’s rights and access to sexual and reproductive healthcare.
• The 10th of December, International Human Rights Day will be the day for celebrating diversity, including sexual diversity while calling for inclusion in respect of all rights of individuals .

For more information contact: Thenjiwe Ngcobo via e-mail at ngcobothenjyt@gmail.com or phone +27 78 457 8860