Today’s national women’s shutdown brings much-needed attention to the devastating crisis of gender-based violence and femicide in South Africa. It is a stark reminder of the urgency of this issue and the need for all of us to stand together in calling for change.
Gender-based violence is not an abstract problem. It affects people we know – colleagues, friends, family members – often in ways we may never fully understand. The statistics we see cannot convey the depth of the trauma, fear and loss that so many experience every day. For countless individuals, this reality is lived quietly and carried heavily.
As a firm, we stand against gender-based violence and femicide. We stand with survivors, with those who have lost loved ones and with every person and organisation working towards a safer, more just society. Today serves as a powerful reminder of how urgent this work is.
We encourage everyone to take a moment to reflect, to acknowledge the scale of this crisis and to stand in solidarity with those affected. Meaningful change requires collective effort – and each of us has a role to play in building a society where everyone can live free from harm and fear.
