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End violence, empower women

End violence, empower women

End violence, empower women

  • WC Sunrise Summit
  • Women entrepreneurs in riviere noir maurtitius
  • Male involvement during the 16 days against GBV Siteki Eswatini Thandokuhle Dlamini 700x0 crop 80
  • Gaborone march 700x0 crop 80
  • GBV slogans 700x0 crop 80

Gender Links tackles gender-based violence (GBV) through groundbreaking research, policy-to-action initiatives and boosting economic power to end violence. Between 2010 and 2015, we pioneered the first studies on violence against women (VAW) indicators across seven Southern African countries: Mauritius, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Seychelles, South Africa (the provinces of Gauteng, Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Western Cape) and Zambia.

The annual #VoiceandChoice barometer measures 100 indicators, including VAW, to track policy gaps and progress in SADC countries. Through the Sunrise Campaign, we have demonstrated that empowering survivors to start businesses and achieve financial independence reduces GBV. Gender Links has collaborated with 432 local councils to integrate GBV prevention measures into community plans. We have also championed moving beyond 16 Days of Activism campaigns to 365-day GBV action plans that offer long-term solutions.

Go to external page: What is gender-based violence?

Key facts

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7

SADC countries in which a VAW baseline study was conducted

2 000

women have participated in the Sunrise Campaign

432

Centres of Excellence for Gender in Local Government have adopted action plans to end GBV

Programmes

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Research
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Sunrise Campaign
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Policy and action plans
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Advocacy and campaigns
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‘I’ stories

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Botswana: Bitterness is gone
Botswana: Bitterness is gone
Mozambique: Journey of a gender, HIV and AIDS activist
Mozambique: Journey of a gender, HIV and AIDS activist
Zambia: I struggled to find happiness in my life
Zambia: I struggled to find happiness in my life
Zimbabwe: Rescued by entrepreneurial skills
Zimbabwe: Rescued by entrepreneurial skills
Go to: Read more ‘I’ stories

Stories of change

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Story of change: Salama Foundation's transformative campaign in Tanzania
Story of change: Salama Foundation's transformative campaign in Tanzania
South Africa: integrated approach delivers results
South Africa: integrated approach delivers results
Mauritius: the Safe Haven Halfway Home project
Mauritius: the Safe Haven Halfway Home project
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Testimonials

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  • “Thanks to the unwavering support of the Renewed Women’s Voice and Leadership South Africa Fund, in partnership with Gender Links and Global Affairs Canada, our survivor-led organisation has launched a groundbreaking, community-based paralegal training programme. This isn’t just a training. It’s a movement. A revolution. A rising.”

    Zintle Khobeni de Lange – WOSSO Fellow

  • “Informed by this research, now is the time to strengthen all efforts to address GBV. I would like to commend Gender Links and partners for their great work. Now that the baseline has been established, it is the moment to reinforce not only the national action plan to end GBV, but local action plans as well.”

    Morena Thesele Maseribane, former Lesotho Minister of Gender, Youth, Sports and Recreation

  • “There is a lot that has changed in my life and my business, and I am grateful because I am growing. Business can be slow sometimes, but I will never give up; this is my breakthrough. I am very grateful to Gender Links for the little help they provided, which has changed my life. I promise not to disappoint them, nor especially myself.”

    Nkhensani Priscilla Ngobeni, Greater Tzaneen Municipality