The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities has urgently appealed to South African men to join the fight against rape and gender-based violence by participating in the 365 Days of No Violence against Women and Children campaign.

“As a nation, we must encourage men to take a stand denouncing the continuation of rape and violence targeting women and children,” stated Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. “While doing so, we must also address the underlying roots of violent masculinity and physical abuse of women and children.”

Violence against women and girls, in forms including physical, sexual, psychological and economic abuse, remains pervasive worldwide with South Africa being no exception. On a global scale, at least one in three women experience violence at some point in their lives, with intimate partner violence being the most commonly reported.

Minister Dlamini-Zuma noted that South Africa, like many countries, has enacted laws aimed at combating violence against women and children. However, she cautioned that failure to enforce legislation such as laws against domestic violence, rape, and human trafficking “will limit their impact,” despite their adoption over the past decade.

Through implementing the resolutions of the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence, the Minister said her department “continues to work with stakeholders to combat the rampant level of violence against women and children.” Dlamini-Zuma urged, “It is critical that as a country and society, we encourage men to take action in denouncing the continuation of the trend of rape and violence against women and children.”