In late November, tens of thousands of South Africans participated in a nationwide “shutdown” protest against gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide, lying on the ground for 15 minutes to symbolise the 15 women murdered daily in the country. The day prior, President Cyril Ramaphosa declared violence against women a “national disaster,” a move aimed at accelerating emergency resources for survivor services. While the declaration was hailed as a victory by some activists, child rights advocates say it fails to prioritise children, who make up nearly half of sexual offence victims in South Africa.
Why It Matters
South Africa has some of the world’s highest levels of GBV, with the murder rate for women five times the global average. Children are disproportionately affected, accounting for 47% of reported sexual assault cases in 2022-23, with girls aged 0-17 years comprising two-thirds of child victims. Funding shortfalls and resource constraints for frontline charities have intensified, especially following cuts to U.S. foreign aid, leaving child survivors particularly vulnerable.
Key stakeholders include child protection organisations such as the Teddy Bear Clinic and Johannesburg Child Welfare, government ministries including the Ministry for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, civil society activists, and families of survivors. Protest movements like Women for Change and concerned citizens are also driving public awareness and advocacy efforts.
What’s Next
Activists urge the government to implement measurable actions following the national disaster declaration, including ring-fenced funding for survivor services, improved reporting mechanisms, psychosocial support, and education programs on consent and gender equality. Despite challenges, civil society remains committed to prioritising children, engaging schools and communities as part of a long-term strategy to combat GBV.
With information from Reuters.
