16 Days of Activism

16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence is an annual campaign that takes place all over the world to raise awareness on the negative impacts that violence against womxn and children has on society. South Africa joined the campaign in 1998 as one of the strategic interventions to make South Africa a violence-free society.

Parliament plays a critical role in promoting the values enshrined in our Constitution such as advancing the people’s human rights and dignity, equality, non-racialism and non-sexism. Parliament also has the responsibility of protecting the most vulnerable in society through the passing of laws that allow for such provisions to be met. To date these are the laws and Bills that have been passed or introduced in support of promoting a GBV-free society:

• Maintenance Bill
• Prevention and Combatting of Trafficking in Persons
• Children’s Amendment Draft Bill
• Women Empowerment & Gender Equality Bill
• Prevention and Combatting of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bills
• Cybercrime and Cybersecurity Bill
• Domestic Violence Act of 1998
• The Promotion of Equity and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act of 2000
• The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters Act) Amendment Act of 2007

In addition to this, beyond Parliament, the Department of Women, Youth and People with Disabilities in the Presidency, along with the Multi-Party Women’s Caucus Joint Committee to handle all matters relating to championing women’s and children’s causes in Parliament.

The key dates to observe are as follows: