Activists to be honoured for devotion

AS THE world marks International Women’s Day today, women’s rights activists are being recognised and celebrated under the theme, “Time is Now: rural and urban activists transform women’s lives”.

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN executive director for women, said: “This year’s theme captures the vibrant life of the women activists whose passion and commitment have won women’s rights over the generations, and successfully brought change.”

Mlambo-Ngcuka said the latest UN report, Turning Promises into Action, revealed that, across all regions, women were more likely to live in extreme poverty than men.

The JSE, the UN Women South Africa Multi Country Office, the UN Global Compact and Women in Exchange Traded Funds will host the fourth annual Ring the Bell for Gender Equality ceremony.

South Africa will join 40 stock exchanges across the world in “ringing bells” to bring attention to the critical role the private sector can play in advancing gender equality to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Bernadine Bachar, director at the Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children said: “It is time for us to air our grievances and make a noise about the many crimes against women. “The time is now,” she added. “The more often the message is put out there, the more people we can reach with the message that violence against women is criminal and unacceptable.

“Activism also addresses barriers to justice by holding services like the SAPS and the courts accountable when they do not fulfil their mandate.”

Bachar said although progress was hard it was happening because of decades of work by activists.

Sonke Gender Justice spokesperson Karen Robertson said everyone had a part to play in ending gender-based violence (GBV).

“Society as a whole must challenge the underlying patriarchal structures which perpetuate GBV,” said Robertson.

“And the time for this is right now.”