As every year, the 16 international days of action against violence against women begin today. Between 25 November and 10 December, actions and events are held around the world to publicize this taboo subject. Our South African partner organization Lifeline also organized a protest march in Pietermaritzburg today.
Hafid Derbal, Programme Officer South Africa and Zimbabwe
“The problem is so big that we sometimes feel powerless,” says Lungile, a social worker at Lifeline, when asked about the issue of rape. In South Africa, over 65,000 reports of rape are made every year. But the actual number of victims is far higher. Only around a tenth of rapes are actually reported and only six percent of the reported perpetrators are punished. “To ensure that the tragedy is not drowned out by these numbing figures,” continues Lungile, “the stories of the individual victims are all the more important. Also because most of them are afraid or ashamed to break their silence. We support them in this.”
Victim died – perpetrator known and at large
Lifeline is focusing on a current, tragic case on today’s march: a young woman who wanted to report her rapist was abused by him to such an extent that she succumbed to her serious injuries a few days later. Although she was able to identify the perpetrator before she died, he was released on bail a few days ago. The trial against him has been postponed until today. “He can enjoy this Christmas with his family, but his victim and her family can’t!” a young woman said indignantly during the rally.
Solidarity and symbolic death
Giving victims like this one a voice and making the serious problem of violence visible is what Lifeline is all about at today’s march. The silence and taboo in society, but also within families, must be broken. As a sign of solidarity, many of the almost 120 participants had taped their mouths shut. They walked in silence to the town hall, where they symbolically “died” for all victims of violence.
Violence must become public
After the march, the participants gather in a hall to share their experiences. These are moving stories and it takes a lot of courage and trust to share them. It takes people who no longer look and listen away, but offer victims the space to break their silence. This is what Lifeline is all about, not just today and over the next 16 days: violence against women must not remain a private matter, it must become a public issue. Victims of violence must be supported and perpetrators punished.
