Why gender-based violence in South Africa is now a national emergency | The Stream

Key Concepts

• Gender-Based Violence (GBV)
• Femicide
• National Emergency/Disaster Declaration
• Women's Shutdown Movement
• Purple as a Symbol of Protest
• Social Conditioning vs. Biology
• Patriarchy
• Intergenerational Trauma
• Online Gender-Based Violence (OGBV)
• Doxing, Dog Whistling, Cyberbullying, Cyberflashing
• Non-Consensual Intimate Image Abuse (NCIIA)
• Non-Consensual Synthetic Image Abuse (NCSIA)
• Tech Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV)
• Lack of Accountability in Tech Platforms
• Grassroots Movements
• Need for Efficient Implementation of Existing Policies
• Transparency and Audits
• Challenging Social and Cultural Norms
• Rape Culture
• Consent Education
• Men's Role in Combating GBV

South Africa's Gender-Based Violence Crisis and the Women's Shutdown Movement

This video transcript details the significant mobilization of women in South Africa through a "shutdown" protest on November 21st, which led to the government declaring gender-based violence (GBV) a national emergency. The protest, organized by Women for Change, saw over a million signatures and thousands of women stopping work for 15 minutes, with each minute representing the average of 15 women and girls killed daily in South Africa. This action highlights South Africa's alarmingly high femicide rate, which is six times higher than the global average, and underscores that GBV is a global issue affecting women and children worldwide.

Mobilization and Impact of the Shutdown

Cameron Casmbala, spokesperson for Women for Change, described the overwhelming success of the mobilization, which was driven by a team of five people. They leveraged a strong online presence and community engagement, initially gathering 170,000 signatures. The global reach and solidarity found in the movement were a surprise, demonstrating a shared belief in the cause. The shutdown involved a symbolic 15 minutes of silence, with participants lying on the ground to honor victims. This event was described as "intense" and "overwhelming," with participants feeling the collective energy and purpose of decreasing and stopping GBV. A significant outcome was the South African president's declaration of GBV as a national crisis, which Cameron emphasized as a crucial affirmation that the government is finally acknowledging the severity of the issue.

Practical Implications of the National Emergency Declaration

The declaration of GBV as a national disaster is seen as a critical step because it signifies government acknowledgment and opens the door for international accountability. Practically, it means the government is expected to implement existing frameworks and policies more efficiently. This includes:

• Proper funding for the national strategic plan.
• Improvements to tutor care centers.
• Development of multi-ministerial committees involving civil society and private organizations.

Cameron stressed that new legislation is not needed; rather, efficient implementation of existing ones is paramount. She highlighted the lack of progress despite a 2019 promise of 21 billion rand for the national strategic plan (2020-2030), especially with a reported 33.8% increase in GBV in the past year. Transparency through audits and reports is crucial to track progress and ensure accountability.

Root Causes of Gender-Based Violence in South Africa

The high rates of GBV in South Africa are attributed to a multi-layered issue:

• Legacy of Apartheid: The system was rooted in violence and control, leading to an alignment of masculinity with violence and control, which has been passed down through generations as intergenerational trauma.
• Patriarchy: Societal structures that position women, children, and the queer community as second-class citizens and objects, making them more vulnerable to abuse.
• Socioeconomic Factors: High unemployment and substance abuse issues exacerbate GBV rates.

Social Conditioning and the Burden of Safety

A key argument presented is that society teaches women to survive rather than teaching men not to harm. Women are burdened with extensive safety protocols (e.g., what to wear, where to go, carrying pepper spray, sharing locations), while men are not similarly educated on preventing harm. This is framed as social conditioning, not inherent male aggression. The phrase "boys will be boys" is criticized as a justification for socially conditioned violent behavior. Cameron fully agreed, emphasizing that GBV is learned behavior and that the responsibility is unfairly placed on women, with men often absolved due to the "genetic" excuse. She argued that biological imperatives for protection and procreation do not align with violence against others. The transcript also highlights that even with extensive safety measures, women remain vulnerable, with instances of home invasions and killings occurring.

The "World Without Men" Thought Experiment and Women's Constant Vigilance

A past TikTok clip from Women for Change asked women to imagine a world without men for 24 hours. Responses consistently focused on the freedom to walk alone at night, go to the beach with friends, and sleep without fear. This illustrates the constant state of "fight or flight" and stress women experience due to the pervasive threat of violence. This constant vigilance has significant negative impacts on mental, physical, and emotional well-being. The fear associated with men is so ingrained that imagining a world without it brings a sense of peace. The transcript emphasizes that these are not abstract conversations but lived experiences for many women, supported by the World Health Organization statistic that one in three women will experience some form of GBV in their lifetime.

The Role of Men in Combating GBV

The discussion acknowledges that not all men are perpetrators and highlights the importance of men's active participation in change. Cameron outlined a spectrum of male involvement:

• Active Protesters: Men who actively challenge GBV.
• Enablers: Those who encourage or laugh at abusive behavior.
• Passive Bystanders: Those who are okay with GBV and remain silent.
• Ignorers: Those who choose to overlook it.

The call is for men to engage in self-work, recognize their own biases, and actively call out abusive behavior within their communities, as men often listen to other men.

Online Gender-Based Violence (OGBV) and Tech Facilitated GBV

Choma Agu, Executive Director of Tech Her, discusses the alarming rise of OGBV, which often mirrors and amplifies real-world violence. Statistics in Nigeria show that one in two women face online violence. This includes:

• Doxing: Publishing private information.
• Dog Whistling: Coded language to incite hatred.
• Cyberbullying: Harassment and intimidation online.
• Cyberflashing: Sending unsolicited explicit images.
• Non-Consensual Intimate Image Abuse (NCIIA): Sharing private images without consent.
• Non-Consensual Synthetic Image Abuse (NCSIA): Using generative AI to create fake explicit images.

Recent incidents in Tanzania and Mali, where influencers faced severe repercussions for online activities, highlight the dangers of women's visibility online.

Lack of Accountability and Systemic Issues in Online Spaces

A significant challenge is the lack of consequences for OGBV. Tech companies often lack adequate trust and safety teams on the continent, leading to inadequate responses to reports. Decisions made by individuals in distant locations often lack the necessary cultural and contextual understanding, resulting in reports being dismissed as not violating community standards. This is particularly concerning when actions like digitally removing a woman's hijab can expose her to significant risk in certain regions.

Addressing Online Violence: Education, Engagement, and Legal Reform

Tech Her's approach to combating OGBV involves three fronts:

1. Education: Empowering women to recognize abuse and understand their avenues for redress. Platforms like Kuram offer support in navigating the justice system.
2. Engagement with Men: Conducting focus groups and influencer campaigns to educate men that abusive behavior is unacceptable and to appeal to their better selves.
3. Legal Reform: Working with the justice system to develop laws that specifically address online violence and tech-facilitated GBV.

The ubiquity of the internet means online abuse can have prolonged and far-reaching consequences, often exceeding those of physical abuse.

The Need for Comprehensive Education and Consequences

Choma emphasizes that education for boys and men is insufficient. She recounts a focus group where a man believed "forcing" intimacy was acceptable, highlighting the need for clear education on consent, defining rape even within relationships. The double standard of judging women for talking "too much" while not applying the same scrutiny to men is also pointed out. The lack of consequences for online criminal actions (doxing, cyberflashing, extortion, blackmail) is a major deterrent failure. This rise in online harms is linked to factors like aggrieved partners, perceived disrespect, and content monetization pressures on social media platforms, where women often bear the brunt of the drive for viewership.

Conclusion and Call to Action

The video concludes by reiterating that GBV and OGBV are global issues. The efforts in South Africa and the work of organizations like Women for Change and Tech Her are crucial in challenging deeply ingrained social norms, demanding accountability, and advocating for systemic change. The call to action is for continued education, active participation from men, and robust legal and technological frameworks to ensure the safety of women and girls both online and offline.