The Government of South Africa declares gender-based violence a national disaster

"I came here not only because I've got people that I know who have been victims of femicide and gender-based violence, but because this is a crisis. We see women dying every day and we need our voices to be heard", said 28-year-old Lebogang Ntsia, standing among thousands at the Union Buildings. "Just as women many years ago protested here (against apartheid laws) and showed up for the changes that we are privileged to experience today, we also need to be the generation that steps up."

The statistics paint a grim picture. The First South African National Gender-based Violence Study, released in 2024 and co-supported by UN Women, revealed that more than 1 in 3 women – 35.8 per cent of South African women – have experienced physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime. The protest's impact rippled nationwide as educational institutions observed the 15-minute silence, some major retailers paused operations, and the coordinated action caught global headlines.

Responding to the outcry amplified by over one million petition signatures, the Government has declared gender-based violence and femicide a national disaster – a move that will unlock additional resources and policy focus, ensuring the issue receives urgent attention it demands.

UN Women, 25 November 2025