SOUTH AFRICA WOMEN’S GROUP DECLARES NATIONWIDE SHUTDOWN ON RISING GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE

Women’s rights groups in South Africa have called for a nationwide shutdown on Friday to demand the declaration of gender-based violence (GBV) a national disaster, amid escalating epidemic of attacks on women.
The campaign, which began as a viral social-media movement, urges women to stay away from work and school and lie down for 15 minutes at noon to honour victims. Supporters, celebrities and Grammy award winner Tyla, have adopted purple-themed social-media profiles to raise awareness.
This comes as South Africa records some of the world’s highest rates of gender-based violence, with UN Women reporting that women are killed at five times the global average.
Women for Change spokesperson, Cameron Kasambala argued that the laws that exist are poorly implemented. Meanwhile, some women said they are taking their safety into their own hands, joining groups like Girls on Fire, which trains women in self-defence and legal firearm use.
Meanwhile, The National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) has rejected calls to classify gender-based violence as a national disaster, campaigners have called for nationwide protest, today Friday to demand urgent action over the rising cases of gender-based violence in the country.