Sonke joins the globe to mark the 16 days of activism against Gender Based Violence, this year under the theme “Towards 30 years of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action: UNITE to end violence against women and girls”.
A recent report by the Human Sciences Research Council of South Africa states that 7 out of 10 men in the country believe women should ‘obey’ their husbands. The study further states that a significant number of men believe that a woman cannot refuse to have sex with her partner.
The 16 Days of Activism campaign is an opportunity for society to interrogate these findings and other harmful social norms. It is also a moment to strengthen interventions of raising awareness of the global scourge of violence, promoting positive masculinity and gender equity, as well as urging governments to implement commitments made to eliminate violence against women as contained in the progressive National Strategic Plan against GBVF.
“We endeavour to make our contribution through engagements with communities and partner organisations in efforts to contribute to the success of the noble campaign that seeks to end all forms of violence against women, children and the LGBTQIA+ community” said Bafana Khumalo Sonke Gender Justice’s Co-Executive Director.
Sonke calls upon world leaders, the civil society fraternity, communities and other stakeholders to unite and play their part, in the quest to end violence, beyond these 16 days of activism against Gender based violence campaign.
“We can only achieve the goals of the GBVF-NSP if all stakeholders pull together and work collaboratively. We need as a matter of urgency the establishment of the coordinating mechanism for the implementation of the strategy as agreed between government, civil society and other stakeholders in South Africa” Khumalo emphasises.
Sonke remains committed to contributing towards the prevention of violence in society.
Issued by Sonke Gender Justice
For media enquiries contact
Kgomotso Mophulane, Communications & Strategic Information Manager, Sonke Gender Justice on kgomotso@genderjustice.org.za or 0835196187.
Bafana Khumalo, Co-Executive Director, Sonke Gender Justice on bafana@genderjustice.org.za or 082 5784479.
Note to editors
Sonke is a South African-based non-profit organisation working throughout Africa. We believe women and men, girls and boys can work together to resist patriarchy, advocate for gender justice, and achieve gender transformation. For media releases, reports and news visit https://genderjustice.org.za/ and https://genderjustice.org.za/newsletter-signup/
