The United Nations marked the annual 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence from November 25 to December 10, 2021. We at Cape {town} Etc will be using our platform to raise awareness over this period.
“Gender-based violence and femicide is not a secondary priority. It is not a women’s issue. Gender-based violence is overwhelmingly and unequivocally a human rights issue.” – President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Should you wish to contribute, share your story, advise or educate, kindly send us an email at [email protected].
Day 1: What is Gender-based violence?
As much as we see the term gender-based violence in media articles, Ramaphosa speeches and across social media, it’s not a term as commonly understood as one might think. It is the very unfortunate thing that unites all women, writes Cape {town} Etc’s Ashleigh Nefdt.
It’s been called the “the most pervasive yet least visible human rights violation in the world,” by UNICEF.
When we refer to GBV, we refer to a spectrum of actions, to the way we speak and even think that contributes to rape culture. GBV isn’t as simple as one action of violence, but rather challenges a society that has allowed that action to happen.
You might want to know a little more about GBV.
For the next 16 days, TikTok is your guide to understanding GBV and sharing what you learn with others, so that we can all help each other a little more.
To mark this year’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence, TikTok is partnering with UN Women and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) NGOs, such as Gender Links, & the Tears Foundation in South Africa, Warif NG & Mirabel Centrein Nigeria, as well as Childline Kenya & LVCT Health to start the conversation about gender-based violence and educate the TikTok community.
As hundreds of millions of women are using TikTok every day to entertain, inspire, educate and be the voices for change in their communities, TikTok believes that in order to thrive and feel free to express their creativity, safety is fundamental. However, it’s not just for women, but for anyone who wants to learn more and stand against GBV for the women in our worlds.
We learn more about GBV to understand, to help. It’s for our moms. Our sisters (by blood and heart). Our best friends. The waitress who always makes our day, and the lecturer who inspired us back in her day. The woman who carries a child on her back that we pass in traffic, and the woman that child will one day become.
A new in-app information hub will also be launched on TikTok starting on International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls on 25 November and concluding on International Human Rights Day on 10 December.
Featuring content from worldwide experts & local creators, the hub will give the TikTok community the opportunity to hear from survivors of gender-based violence, to learn about consent, and to better recognise harmful gender norms.
The platform encourages its community to share how they intend to stand up for women and girls around the world with #EndViolenceAgainstWomen.
TikTok will be hosting a LIVE on the @genderlinks and @tiktok.africa TikTok accounts, to discuss issues pertaining to the solutions needed to help fight violence against women & children.
“Please join us on Thursday, 9 December at 14:00 to hear more about what we can all do to fight the violent scourge affecting women and children in Africa,” says TikTok.
For more information, click here.
Gender based violence resources South Africa:
- Rape Crisis Cape Town Hotline: 021 447 9762
- South African GBV Hotline: 0800 428 428
- Tears Foundation: 010 590 5920 / www.tears.co.za / [email protected]
- Childline South Africa: 0800 055 555 / www.childline.org.za / [email protected]
- People Opposed to Woman Abuse: 011 642 4345 / www.powa.co.za / [email protected]
- Community Intervention Centre Helpline: 082 821 3447
- Free Legal Advice on WhatsApp (LawForAll): 063 603 3759
- Stop Domestic Violence Helpline (Lifeline): 0800 150 150
- Suicide Helpline: 0800 567 567
- SAPS: 10111
- National Counselling Line: 0861 322 322
- Legal Aid: 0800 110 110
Useful websites:
- https://www.thewarriorproject.org.za/resources/
- https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_speech/THUTHUZELA%20Care%20Centres.pdf
- https://rapecrisis.org.za/
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Picture: Art by Carmen Tyrrell