Thousands unite against GBVF

SILENT PROTEST

- KAREN SIGNH

IN an impressive display of solidarity and urgency ahead of the G20 Summit, thousands gathered across South Africa to draw attention to the pressing issue of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) in honour of those who lost their lives as a result.

At 12 noon yesterday, participants dressed in black lay down in silence for 15 minutes.

The nationwide shutdown was spearheaded by the advocacy group Women for Change (WFC), which has been persistently calling for this issue to be declared a national disaster, with a petition backed by over 1.1 million people worldwide.

The organisation shared on social media that the country faces one of the deadliest GBV epidemics globally.

"In just one year, 5,578 women were murdered a 33% increase from the previous year."