16 Days of Activism against Violence against Women and Children is commemorated every year between 25 November and 10 December. While it is a worthwhile initative to raise awareness of gender-based violence, women from the SANAC Women’s Sector say the struggle for gender equality and zero tolerance for gender-based violence is an everyday one.
SANAC Women’s Sector leader Mashudu Mfomande points out that as long as women shoulder the brunt of HIV and gender-based violence in the country, we need to do more on HIV prevention. “The rate at which we are being infected is still too high and is not declining. Now young women and girls are even more affected. It feels like we are just going around in circles and that nothing or not enough is being done in HIV prevention for women. If we are serious about getting to zero, as stated in our current National Strategic Plan, then we have to get serious about prevention for women in South Africa.
“We have to get serious about prevention for women in South Africa.”
“As the current NSP comes to an end, the Women’s Sector has begun provincial dialogues to ask ourselves: ‘What do we want to see in the next NSP for women?’ The other question is how we as women influence the prevention agenda in this country.Gender-based violence and HIV infection are still huge challenges that don’t receive enough attention. As we head into another 16 Days of Activism, this is a connection we should keep raising.”