The 16 Days of Activism for No Violence on Women and Children starts on November 25 and the implementation of the National Strategic Plan on Gender Based Violence and Femicide (NSP – GBVF) will be among the awareness activities to be highlighted when government launches this year’s campaign.
The 16 Days of Activism Campaign is an international United Nations-endorsed initiative that is observed annually from November 25 (International Day of No Violence against Women) to December 10 (International Human Rights Day).
The period was designated by the United Nations General Assembly to raise public awareness on gender-based violence and other key commemorative days observed during this period include World Aids Day on December 1, and the International Day for Persons with Disabilities on December 3.
In South Africa, 10 818 rape cases were reported in the first quarter of 2022 and it is estimated that one woman is raped every three hours in South Africa, according to research done by the National Library of Medicine.
The rate at which women are killed by intimate partners in South Africa is five times higher than the global average.
In a statement issued by the government, it was noted that this year marks the 25th anniversary since South Africa initiated the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children campaign.
“The 16 Days campaign focuses on raising awareness to the devastating impact that gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) has on women and children, and the social fabric of society. This year’s campaign will be observed under the theme: ‘Accelerating actions to end gender-based violence and femicide: leaving no one behind’.
“The sub-theme for this year is: ‘Safe access for women to clean water: a basic human right’. The theme speaks to the importance of ensuring an all-society and multi-faceted approach to fight GBVF. The sub-theme seeks to address barriers women face in safely accessing water and sanitation in South Africa,” according to the statement.
Government will officially launch the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign on Saturday November 25 at the Nsikazi Stadium in Mbombela Local Municipality, Mpumalanga Province.
