THOUSANDS across the country stood in solidarity against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) today, Friday, November 21, by wearing black.

In a powerful display of activism, several businesses and public spaces, including the Durban beachfront, observed 15 minutes of silence as part of the G20 Women’s Shutdown, called for and organised by the NPO Women for Change.

Also read: Caxton Durban joins Women For Change shutdown

The organisation urged women not to spend money for the entire day, highlighting the economic and social impact of their absence.

@caxtonlocalmedia Thousands gathered for the women who never made it back home. @womenforchange.sa #caxtondurban #WomensShutdown #womenforchange #unburythetruth ♬ original sound – caxtonlocalmedia

Women for Change has also called for GBVF to be declared a National Disaster.

“Every day in South Africa, at least 15 women are murdered and 117 women report rape cases … It’s time to confront the painful truth: most cases of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) are committed by someone the victim knows, a partner, ex-partner, family member, or close friend. Yet countless women remain trapped in their own homes, silently enduring unimaginable abuse behind closed doors,” the organisation said in a statement.

Estimates published by the World Health Organisation indicate that globally about one in three (30%) women have been subjected to either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime.

More than a million people (at the time of going to print 1 106 665) had signed a petition by the organisation calling for GBVF to be declared a National Disaster.

At Caxton Local Media, we also marked the occasion

Throughout the week, we turned our profile pictures purple in solidarity with the movement and painted a wall at our New Germany offices with messages of hope.

At 12:00, we joined the nationwide call to bring South Africa to a standstill – standing silent for 15 minutes to honour the 15 women murdered every day.

Because today wasn’t just a moment of silence.
It was a collective demand. No more names. No more violence. No more waiting.
South Africa must act – now.

@caxtonlocalmedia 15 minutes of silence. A lifetime of change. Today we stood for every woman, and child taken by GBV. Caxton Local Media stands with Women For Change, enough is enough. 💜 #GBVShutdown #WomenForChange #EndGBV #SayHerName #CaxtonsSafePlace #PurpleForPurpose #NotOneMore #SilenceTheNation #SouthAfrica ♬ original sound – SoundKorner

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