As the 2024 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) campaign kicks off, the Emthonjeni Women’s Forum has renewed its call for collective action to end violence against women.
This year’s theme, “Towards 30 Years of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action: Unite to End Violence Against Women,” underscores the ongoing struggle for gender equality and women’s empowerment.
The campaign renews the commitment to dismantling harmful norms and structures that perpetuate GBV and hinder women’s participation in decision-making.
As the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration approaches, Emthonjeni Women’s Forum highlighted the pressing need to meet the ambitious goals set three decades ago.
“Despite legislative efforts, gender-based violence remains a significant issue, with many cases going unreported or unaddressed. This context threatens the progress made over the past decades and makes our work more urgent than ever,” the organisation stated.
The forum urged activists, organisations, allies, and funders to amplify the message that violence against women is intolerable and must end.
“Together, and beyond the 16 days of activism, let us shine a spotlight on this urgent issue and take unified steps to dismantle harmful systems while promoting gender equality,” they added.
While celebrating strides made since the Beijing Declaration, the organisation acknowledged the journey toward gender justice is far from complete.
“Gender-based violence remains pervasive. We must intensify efforts to prevent violence, support survivors, and hold perpetrators accountable,” they said.
The forum emphasised the importance of a multi-faceted approach, including education, legal reform, and community engagement.
During the campaign, Emthonjeni Women’s Forum will be active on social media, reflecting on progress and renewing commitments to preventing violence and supporting survivors.
“We all have a role to play in preventing violence against women and girls and ensuring a gender-just society where women and girls live free from all forms of violence,” the forum concluded.
