16 Days of Activism Against GBV

Kolisi Foundation focuses on all-year-round collaboration and action

VIOLENCE against women and girls (VAWG) is one of the most widespread, persistent and devastating human rights violations in our world today, and remains largely unreported due to the impunity, silence, stigma and shame surrounding it.

During August, the Kolisi Foundation held a series of conversations with men about their role in addressing gender-based violence (GBV). Coming up with solutions to GBV, the foundation listened to and learned from the experiences of women.

“Over the last few months, we have listened to countless stories from women across our country. These stories are a piercing indictment on the reality that women in South Africa live in. They are also an invitation to men all over the nation to consider and re-imagine a world where women don’t live in constant fear.”

We are reminded of the words of Kolisi Foundation co-founder and 2019 Rugby World Cup-winning captain, Siya Kolisi, to use August as an audit month. “It should be happening every single month because gender-based violence doesn’t only happen in a certain month, it’s an everyday fight,” said Kolisi.

During the 16 Days of Activism period, the Kolisi Foundation is joining hands with organisations in the GBV sphere by focusing on amplifying the work they are doing.

Together with the 16 Days of Activism Campaign, the Kolisi Foundation is collaborating with Youngblood Arts and Culture Development to host a fund-raiser to raise donations for the Kolisi Foundation’s GBV initiatives.

The award-winning and highly-acclaimed artist, Laura Wenman, has donated her portrait of Siya Kolisi and the highest donation on this platform will receive the portrait.

Visit the link to the fund-raiser for more information and to donate – youngblood-africa.com/shop/donations/

“As South Africans, we often think GBV is somebody else’s problem, but if you ask around, gender-based violence is closer to home than anyone may think,” said Kolisi Foundation co-founder, Rachel Kolisi.

“Establishing a foundation during this time, we really wanted to assist in an immediate need and we wanted to partner with organisations that are already doing incredible work and to learn, listen and understand.”

Follow the Kolisi Foundation’s 16 Days of Activism Campaign on their social media platforms or visit www. kolisifoundation.org for more information.