Feminist groups making strides with GBV

SOUTH Africa is characterised by alarming rates of gender-based violence (GBV) against women, children, and marginalised groups. The unprecedented rates suggest that there is a normalisation of violence due to a patriarchal system that thrives on the oppression of vulnerable groups systematically, socially, politically, economically, and environmentally.

Although the dominant narrative around GBV continues to position women as perpetual victims, it undermines an incredibly powerful narrative of how women’s movement-building has been pivotal in working towards a violence-free society.

The shift towards an intersectional and feminist analysis of the scourge continues to hold institutions of power accountable for their role in perpetuating, and contributing to, an eradication of the violence.

Twenty-six years into democracy, the South African government has been on the receiving end of continuous scrutiny for its nonchalant approach to effectively prioritising the human rights of women, children, and marginalised groups.

The spike in feminist movement-building and organising in our communities has placed considerable amounts of pressure on holding our leaders and society liable for their complacency in GBV. These processes have been reinforced by the larger global shift in the discourse on GBV and gender more broadly, where historically private matters such as rape and femicide are being placed on national, regional, and international agendas.

This month, we reflect on and appreciate the rich history of South African civil resistance movements that were led by women including the Black Sash, the Alexandra Women’s Council, Women of Crossroads Movement,

Bantu Women’s League and the 1956 Women’s March. We must be deliberate about acknowledging the roles they played in influencing contemporary women’s movements.

Movements like #RhodesMustFall; #FeesMustFall; #RememberKhwezi; #RUReferenceList; #Iam1in3; and #MeToo are an expression of women’s ability to politicise their lived experiences.

Through collective efforts and a true sense of solidarity under #TheTotalShutdown movement, the first National Summit on Gender-Based Violence was held by the Office of the Presidency. This historic moment gave birth to the journey towards finalising the National Strategic Plan (NSP) on Gender-Based Violence.

In April, President Cyril Ramaphosa launched the 10-year plan to curb GBV by providing a costed framework, scalable measures with fixed time lines that are to be implemented in the next decade. The NSP is a powerful feminist document that truly captures the lived realities of women, children, and marginalised groups who are survivors and potential victims of GBV.

Indeed, we are reminded that we are resting on the shoulders of powerful women who carried us over decades of collective resistance for the full recognition of women and vulnerable groups as humans, too.

Our mandate is to ensure the realisation of feminist realities. Realities that will not favour one group over the other, but will instead promote fair and equitable distribution of resources, protect, and preserve the livelihoods of all people and commit to capacitating our communities to strive for sustainable development for all.