Callas Foundation backs Women for Change in its effort to spotlight GBVF

Human rights organisation the Callas Foundation is backing the Women for Change organisation in its effort to shine the spotlight on gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).

The foundation said the shutdown, planned to take place later in November, is necessary to showcase the harsh reality of GBVF.

While Women for Change has called on mostly women and members of the LGBTQIA+, it said men can and should participate in conversations around GBV and femicide.

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The founder for the Callas Foundation, Caroline Peters, said they stand in full support for accountability and change.

"Holding it just before the G20 summit also ensures the world sees that women and LGBTQI+ communities are still not safe here. The act of lying down for 15 minutes honours those who have been killed and forces the country to confront the reality we live with every day.”

The operations and activism coordinator at Women for Change, Merliz Jogiat, said, “We need to all be the voices for those people, especially the children who are unable to fight for themselves. So, we believe you. We stand for you. And we will always be here to support and listen to your stories.”

NATIONAL DISASTER

Women for Change has, once again, called for GBVF to be declared a national disaster.

The non-profit organisation has called on South Africans to change their social media profiles purple to show support and solidarity with the organisation, as it prepares for the shutdown demonstration.

The demonstration is deliberately planned to take place a day before the G20 Summit in an effort to force government officials to address GBVF in the country.

Jogiat said that they want to bring awareness around GBVF to a global audience.

"The most important message is that we believe you. We know how difficult it is to get your voice out, and we are doing this so that your voice is heard, even if you are silenced. It is so important for us to recognise that our mothers, our sisters, our friends at some point in their lives will be affected by GBV.”

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