Today, 8 March is International Women’s Day and it is a day set aside annually to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women.
According to the United Nations, the theme for International Women’s Day in 2024 is “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress” and with that here is a list of women-owned organisations that aim at accelerating progress within the South African context, particularly at a time when gender-based violence (GBV) is still eminent.
Women for Change SA
Women For Change (WFC) is a non-profit organisation that was established in 2016 to advocate for the constitutional rights of women and children in South Africa. Women for Change campaigns on the issues of gender-based violence & femicide (GBVF), human rights, and gender equality, by sharing the stories of real South African women on their pages.
With more than 110 000 followers on Instagram alone, and more than 10 million reach per month on social media in total, Women for Change assists victims and families with vital resources such as medical assistance, legal assistance, counsellors, information about GBVF and how to handle each case.
Donate to Women For Change here.
Image credit: Women for Change
Uyinene foundation
The name Uyinene will never be forgotten, but if you need to refresh your memory, Uyinene was the 19-year-old UCT student who went to the post office to pick up a package in broad daylight in 2019 and never returned. It was later found that the staff member at the post office was responsible for her rape and murder.
Her disappearance and murder sparked outrage all around the country and kickstarted the #AmINext movement that led protests to parliament calling for President Cyril Ramaphosa to announce a state of emergency as a result of gender-based violence and the femicide that exists in South Africa.
Uyinene was known to be vocal on social ills such as patriarchal oppression and gender-based violence, which is why the foundation was created. The Uyinene Foundation works to develop young boys to be responsible men with their youth development programmes that conduct conversations around consent, and mental health, female hygiene drives and they continue to put pressure on policymakers.
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Kwanele
Through innovative technology, Kwanele gives victims of violence access to justice for those experiencing violence. ChatGBV, a clever play on ChatGPT, is an award-winning Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbot tool to support GBV survivors with information about their rights and the services available.
The AI-powered tool simplifies access to crucial information, resources, and assistance for survivors navigating the justice system. The chatbot also provides educational material, LIVE chat, and guides to building a case. Kwanele also has a free app to connect you to security services and law enforcement in times of emergency, track evidence in real-time, and safely store information.
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