The Significance of 16 Days of Activism Against GBV – Dr. Shakira Choonara

Globally, one in three women experience violence from an intimate partner, which is usually sexual or physical. Globally, 81 000 women and girls were killed in 2020 (47 000 died at the hands of an intimate partner or family member), this means that every 11 minutes a woman or girl is killed in their home.

Each year between the 25^th of November and the 10^th of December 2022 you may notice more adverts on television or even more posts on Instagram and Tik Tok on violence. The increased attention to violence marks the annual international 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) campaign. These two dates are significant as the 25^th of November marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and the 10^th of December marks Human Rights Day. We have been marking 16 Days of Activism since the year 1991 and it is a strategy used by individuals or organizations worldwide to call for the prevention and elimination of violence. It is worth it to note that there are different forms of GBV e.g. physical, emotional, and financial and in South Africa we also spotlight femicide in our policies – the killing of a female person or perceived female person (someone we assume to be or categorise as being female).

GBV affects all genders

It is primarily women and girls who are at the receiving end of violence, but there are also increased levels of stigma, discrimination, and violence against transgender persons and the LGBTQI community. Working on the ground level, there are so many cases of LGBTQI persons facing corrective rape to cure them of their “sexual preference”; this is a violation of one’s body and violence in its harshest form.

Examples of successful GBV Campaigns

• The #metoo movement kicked off when survivors, specifically, Hollywood movie stars shared their experiences of GBV. The Hashtag went viral and spurred many women to speak out and expose their experiences.
• In South Africa, recently, activists galvanized around the Sandton Protest, the pressure on the Government led to a R1 billion allocation to GBV by President Cyril Ramaphosa and pressure to work towards the National Strategic Plan on GBV and Femicide.

What action can you take during the 16 Days of Activism?

• Volunteer at a women’s or children’s shelter which houses survivors of GBV.
• See whether your school has a policy on GBV and if you can help support this.
• Host an awareness session at school, in your community, or even online with your peers. You could also shoot TikToks or Instagram your thoughts on violence to raise awareness, encouraging your peers to join in.
• Find out what GBV services are in your area, if there aren’t any you can take up a fight to have this in place.
• Engage with the South African Police Service on the GBV efforts.
• If you know of any peers or family members experiencing violence, advise and support them to report this and seek medical assistance immediately.

Remember, our advocacy and work in the area is not for 16 days only but it is a fight we need to take up all year round.

Dr. Shakira Choonara is a multi-award public health practitioner, appointed to the World Health Organization and UN Women. She is also the 2017 Woman of the Year in Health, South Africa.

If you or a friend need advice or help, you can contact me here on Ask Choma, send a Facebook message or a Twitter DM, or a WhatsApp Message (071 172 3657).