Breaking the silence: Activists push beyond 16 Days
As the 16 Days of Activism campaign ends, Durban organisations urge South Africa to fight gender-based violence 365 days a year.
AS we near the end of the annual 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign, held from November 25 to December 10, the call to end gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) in South Africa remains urgent and unrelenting.
Organisations fighting the scourge of GBVF, survivors, and community members are unified in urging that the campaign be extended to 365 days a year. In a country with one of the highest rates of GBVF and sexual assault, activists say far more must be done to stop the violence.
Among those adding their voices are members of the Islamic Medical Association of South Africa (IMASA) in Durban, who recently joined Sydenham SAPS in a series of awareness drives. During the 16 Days period, volunteers stood at busy intersections in the area, holding placards condemning GBVF and urging the public to take a stand.
“We had to lend our voice to the campaign and say that enough is enough,” said Fathima Abdulla, one of the participants and social worker at IMA.
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Holding placards reading “Hoot if you say NO to rape” and “Women deserve better”, the group drew the attention of motorists and pedestrians, many of whom hooted in support.
“Gender-based violence is a huge problem in South Africa, and we must continue to make a noise about it until we are heard. We need to break the silence on the abuse and violence levelled against women and children,” Abdulla added.
This year’s campaign was held under the theme “Letsema: Men, Women, Boys and Girls Working Together to End Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF)”. It marks the 27th year since the campaign was adopted by the United Nations.
The 16 Days campaign serves to highlight the societal and systemic causes of GBVF and to mobilise action at local, national, and global levels to eliminate all forms of gendered violence.
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