End Gender Based Violence NOW!

Nearly 30 years after the onset of democracy, women and LGBTQIA+ community members in South Africa continue to face disturbing levels of oppression, violence, and injustice – be it in the streets, in the workplace, travelling in taxis, or in our homes. The South African Constitution guarantees equality and freedom for all regardless of sex, gender, or sexual orientation, however these guarantees remain only on paper. Across the country reports of murder, rape (including spousal rape and the so called ‘corrective rape’ of queer women), harassment, domestic violence, and sexual violence are worryingly prevalent.

Women and LGBTQIA+ community members must be treated with equality, dignity, and respect, as outlined in the Constitution. As men, cisgender, and heterosexual people we will constantly interrogate our own actions and privileges to understand how we contribute to the oppression of women and LGBTQIA+ people. We will not remain silent when we see sexism, homophobia, and transphobia. We refuse to hide behind our cultures and traditions.

Obstetric violence is another form of gender based violence perpetrated against people capable of pregnancy. Ambulances can take hours to come, or never arrive to take people with pregnancy complications to hospital. There have been reports of people giving birth on the side of the road. When people arrive at hospital they can face other forms of abuse or humiliation. People can be left for hours unattended, or have to give birth on the floors of hospitals when no beds have been available. Invasive medical procedures take place without consent, that can leave people in pain long after they have given birth. There have even been reports of people being unknowingly sterilised. Obstetric violence is a violence of people’s Constitutionally mandated reproductive health rights.