The Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR) is calling on South African women to speak up about Violence Against Women (VAW) as part of a new social media campaign to highlight the pervasive nature of the scourge.
The campaign, #EndVAWNow, will be conducted across social media platforms to allow women to share their own stories.
"Through this campaign, we are encouraging women to break the silence by sharing their personal experiences," said CVSR Gender Specialist Nonhlanhla Sibanda-Moyo.
"It is estimated that at least one woman in every three has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime. These incidents take place in spaces where women's general life occurs, both public and private," said Sibanda-Moyo.
The campaign is also a call to government, the private sector, civil society organisations and all sectors of society to combine efforts to end VAW in South Africa.
It comes ahead of the release of research conducted by the CSVR in partnership with Oxfam-South Africa on why VAW persists as well as recommendations for action. The findings will be shared during a media briefing and public seminar on August 29 and 30 in Johannesburg.
Women can join the conversation to help end VAW by sharing their experiences on Twitter (@_CSVR); WhatsApp (+27 63 972 2999) and Facebook (EndVAWNow). The hashtag is #EndVAWNow.
For more information and interviews, contact:
Nonhlanhla Sibanda (Gender Specialist, CSVR)
NSibanda@csvr.org.za
CSVR is a multi-disciplinary institute that seeks to understand and prevent violence, heal its effects and build sustainable peace at the community, national and regional levels.
