Commemorating the 16th Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children

Posted: 01 December 2020

The 16 Days Campaign forms the centre point of government’s comprehensive 365 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children. 

The theme for the 2020 campaign is “Women’s Economic Justice for a Non-Violent and Non Sexist South Africa”.  The campaign comes at a time when SA is still battling the scourge of gender based violence and femicide, which was exacerbated by the COVID-19 lockdown.

Developments towards addressing GBVF

Given the scourge of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) in the country, which is declared as a second pandemic, government is implementing the National Service Plan (NSP) which was approved by Cabinet in March 2020 and the Emergency Response Action Plan (ERAP) on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, which was announced by President Cyril in September 2019.

SALGA’s Participation

In commemorating the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, the Social Development Unit will be embarking on the following activities:

• Information sharing session on GBVF National Strategic Plan with the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD) on 27 November 2020. The session will be attended by SALGA national and provincial offices as well as other government departments, civil society organisations and municipalities.
• Collaboration with the UN Women to convene a webinar on Economic Empowerment of Women on 02 December 2020.
• Collaboration with Soul City on 7 December 2020, to host a webinar on Local Government response to GBVF. The webinar will be attended by the Women’s Commission, Young Women Organisations including Civil Society Organisations.

The Women’s Commission calls for municipalities to play their meaningful role to make the prevention of violence against women and children a key part of their local response plans. Together, let us support the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against women and Children campaign.