Nationwide shutdown: Women rally together for GBV to declared a national disaster
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Right now, across South Africa, social media is turning purple. Profile pictures, timelines, stories, all drenched in a colour that’s become a symbol of pain, power, and protest. But this isn’t just a trend. It’s a cry for help. It’s a demand for change, because in this country, a woman is murdered every 2.5 hours. Because 117 rape cases are reported every single day and thousands more go unspoken. Because women and children are being violated in their homes, in their communities, and in their silence.
The G20 Women's Shutdown, led by Women for Change, coincides with the G20 Leaders' Summit, which will be held in Johannesburg on 22 and 23 November. They are urging participants to avoid spending money for the entire day. The aim is to demonstrate the scale of the economic and social impact that women and LGBTQI+ individuals hold in their daily lives and what happens when their voices and labour are withdrawn.
Additionally, as part of the shutdown, participants are being called to take part in a symbolic moment of silence at 12pm: lying down for 15 minutes to honour the 15 women who are murdered every day in this country. It’s a powerful gesture meant to reflect both the scale of the tragedy and the urgency for change.
Supporters of the shutdown are calling on the government to immediately declare GBV and femicide a national disaster. This, they argue, would trigger nationwide mobilisation of resources and political focus.
On Friday, 21 November, women across South Africa plan to bring the country to a standstill.
The G20 Women's Shutdown, led by Women for Change, coincides with the G20 Leaders' Summit, which will be held in Johannesburg on 22 and 23 November. They are urging participants to avoid spending money for the entire day. The aim is to demonstrate the scale of the economic and social impact that women and LGBTQI+ individuals hold in their daily lives and what happens when their voices and labour are withdrawn.
Additionally, as part of the shutdown, participants are being called to take part in a symbolic moment of silence at 12pm: lying down for 15 minutes to honour the 15 women who are murdered every day in this country. It’s a powerful gesture meant to reflect both the scale of the tragedy and the urgency for change.
Supporters of the shutdown are calling on the government to immediately declare GBV and femicide a national disaster. This, they argue, would trigger nationwide mobilisation of resources and political focus.
On Friday, 21 November, women across South Africa plan to bring the country to a standstill.
