Part of the solution is to empower women and girls to stand up against GBVF. This means providing education and training on gender equality and human rights, and encouraging women to speak out against abuse and seek help when they need it. We need to take steps to address other challenges facing women in South Africa, including limited access to education and healthcare. The impact of GBV on women's health and well-being cannot be overstated. It is well- documented that rape and other forms of GBV can have long-lasting physical and psychological effects on survivors, including trauma, depression, anxiety, and increased risk of HIV/AIDS. The effects of GBV on communities and society more broadly are significant. Absenteeism from work and decreased productivity, as well as increased healthcare costs and social services, are just a few examples of the broader economic impacts of violence against women. It is important that we work together to address the root causes of GBVF and to provide support and resources to survivors. This includes investing in education and awareness campaigns, improving access to healthcare and mental health services, and holding perpetrators accountable for their actions Violence against women is not just a women's issue, but a societal issue that requires the involvement and action of all members of society. We must work together to create a culture that values and respects women and that actively works to prevent and respond to GBV. As a woman in South Africa, it is indeed a scary time to be alive. The statistics are harrowing and demonstrate the urgent need for action to address the issue of GBVF. The high prevalence of HIV/AIDS in South Africa, which is largely driven by the high rates of sexual violence, is a major public health crisis that requires urgent action. Violence against women is not just a women's issue, but a societal issue.
Gender equality is not just a women's issue. It is an issue that affects us all. We need to work together to create a more equitable society which is not just about legal rights and protections, but changing cultural attitudes and norms that perpetuate GBVF. This requires a sustained and collective effort from individuals, communities, and governments to promote gender equality and challenge harmful gender stereotypes and attitudes South Africa has made significant progress towards democracy and equality, but we still have a long way to go in achieving true gender equality for women. Significant advancements have been made since the 1956 Women's March. The Constitution of South Africa guarantees equality and non- discrimination on the basis of gender, but the high rates of GBVF in South Africa demonstrate that women are not yet safe in their own country and homes. We celebrate the progress but we must acknowledge that there is still much work to be done to achieve true gender equality and ensure that women's rights are respected and protected. We are tired of being the rock that gets struck and want to be treated like the flowers we are! “Women of today are still being called upon to stretch across the gap of male ignorance and to educate men as to our existence and our needs. This is an old and primary tool of all oppressors to keep the oppressed occupied with the master's concerns. Now we hear that it is the task of women of color to educate white women—in the face of tremendous resistance—as to our existence, our differences, our relative roles in our joint survival. This is a diversion of energies and a tragic repetition of racist patriarchal thought.” —Audre Lorde
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