While I join the global community to engage in the #16DaysofActivism against gender-based violence, I reflect on how action and solidarity can contribute to addressing global vicious cycle. The 16 Days of activism keeps reminding me that there is no sustainable development without addressing the root causes of violence. These are my thoughts about violence […]
16 Days: 4 Suggestions for addressing GBVF Read More »
A 16 Days of Activism Call to Action from the WOSSO Fellows Every year, during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, the world raises its voice to confront one of the most urgent human rights crises of our time: the ongoing violence faced by women and girls. In Southern Africa, this crisis feels
Care is power, act to protect women and girls Read More »
Reflections from the 21 November GBV Demonstrations in South Africa By Michelle Mutogo On 21 November 2025, South Africa witnessed one of the most powerful displays of collective grief and resistance in recent memory. At the sidelines of the G20 Summit, where global leaders gathered to shape economic futures, thousands of women, survivors, allies, and
When silence became a protest Read More »
“When you silence a woman, you silence a nation.” – African proverb By Khensani Shivambu-Mabasa In the heart of Ha-Makuya, a village in Limpopo Province, South Africa, I witnessed the devastating impact of gender-based violence (GBV) on women and communities. As a Social Worker at the Life Savers Foundation, a victim empowerment centre, I saw
SA: Breaking free from GBV and cultural chains Read More »
By Akem Aurelia Njang As I write this, we’ve been in lockdown for over five weeks. Maybe it will end in a few days. But will things truly get better? We can’t say for sure. During turbulent times like these, women’s realities are often swallowed up by chaos. Their struggles are brushed aside, their pain
Cameroon: Beyond conflicts: Picnics of power Read More »
The latest WOSSO Advocacy and Networking Town Hall brought together Fellows and partners from across the Global South for a vibrant exchange on advocacy, innovation, and grassroots leadership. The session featured three powerful speakers who shared their journeys in sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR), agriculture and food security, and sex workers’ rights. Together, their
Southern Africa: Highlights from WOSSO Town Hall Read More »
Gaborone, Botswana, 23 September 2025: Partners in the Marang Southern Africa Fund call on the government of Botswana to strengthen protections for the LGBTIQ+ community following the spate of suspected hate crimes that have rocked the Southern African nation. Earlier this month suspected homophobic crimes occurred in Maun in the north of the country and in Mabuo
Botswana: Time for action on hate crimes Read More »
Night was falling over Goma, bringing with it a heavy silence disturbed only by fear. In the streets paved with volcanic stones, the hurried steps of armed men reminded every family that safety was a fragile word, emptied of meaning. This silence, women chose to break. They are not only survivors of sexual violence but
DRC: Breaking the silence of survivors Read More »
In Diepsloot and Riverside View, sport is more than a game; it is a lifeline. On dusty fields and makeshift courts, young people come together to play netball and soccer. They run, sweat, and laugh, but when the whistle blows and the laughter fades, the real work begins. The field becomes a place of truth, where conversations
South Africa: Kicking silence, passing hope, fighting GBV Read More »
April in South Africa is marked as Freedom Month — a time when we are expected to reflect on the long road to liberation and celebrate how far we’ve come since 1994. But as this month draws to a close, it feels dishonest to celebrate. Instead, it feels more fitting to grieve, to rage, and
WOSSO: April was not Freedom Month Read More »
