The 25th of November until the 10th of December is commemorated worldwide as the 16
Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence(GBV). This international campaign kicks
off on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and comes to its
conclusion on International Human Rights Day. Gender-based violence and Femicide
(GBVF) is a scourge that affects not only South Africa and the continent but remains a reality
that persists across the world. This societal ill transcends race, class, religion or any other
categorisation that we use to identify ourselves.

Data from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime report that nearly 89,000 women
and girls were killed in 2022 across the globe, the highest number recorded in the past 20
years. This definitely should sound the alarm and lead us to critically consider our efforts
towards raising awareness of GBVF and the societal drivers that feed into its persistence.
We need to come to an acknowledgement that GBVF requires persistent activism and
advocacy that not only focuses on the extremes of GBV but rather challenges the societal
norms and values that create a conducive environment for such a scourge to persist.

It is not enough to commit ourselves to not being perpetrators of extreme forms of GBV,
such as sexual assault and femicide. We need to confront other norms and values that serve
as drivers of GBV and create an enabling environment for its persistence. This requires the
kind of advocacy that leads to behavioural change, ensuring that all forms of sexual
harassment are given attention and that we take stock of other forms of harm that may not
leave a bruise or be recognised by the legal framework that we often look to for Justice.

The Transformation Office has implemented interventions to support and advance this work.
Throughout the new year, members of the university community will be afforded
opportunities to attend workshops on anti-discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment,
violence, bullying, and other forms of harm. We encourage everyone to avail themselves to
attend these programs to develop a better understanding of how these forms of harm and
violence are nurtured and how they can play an impactful and more meaningful role in
ending the persistence of GBVF.

For more information, please contact the Transformation Office at [email protected]
and keep an eye on our website (https://www.up.ac.za/transformation) for updates on when
workshops will take place so you can prioritise your availability and participation.