Afrika Tikkun has called for the inclusion of women and children with disabilities in the fight against gender-based violence.
The 16 Days of Activism for no Violence Against Women and Children annual campaign was launched on Monday, and will be observed until December 10.
Afrika Tikkun’s calls come hard on the heels of a recent report by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), which found that 42.5% of differently-abled women above the age of 18 had encountered physical and sexual violence.
The leading youth development non-profit organisation (NPO) noted that the latter statistics indicated that women and children with disabilities are grimly affected by violence.
However, there is little sense of urgency as this demographic of individuals is GBV’s overlooked victims despite the prevalence of violence against them.
The executive chairperson for Afrika Tikkun, Marc Lubner, emphasised that disability inclusion should be another core focus in the fight against this epidemic.
“Creating a disability-inclusive society is not just about access to physical spaces; it’s about ensuring the safety, dignity, and protection of the most vulnerable.
“This means creating inclusive policies that address the unique vulnerabilities of women and children with disabilities, empowering victims with accessible support services and fostering community leadership to dismantle rape culture,” said Lubner.
Despite marking a 3-decade run in democracy, the gap between South Africa’s progressive legal frameworks and the realities faced by women and children daily remains glaring
Lubner said the government should be a custodian of anti-GBV, and implement measures that would steadily tackle violence against differently-abled women and children.
“The government must prioritise systemic social re-engineering to dismantle the pervasive attitudes enabling GBV. There is a need for actionable plans with measurable outcomes to challenge rape culture and societal normalisation of violence,” said Lubner.
Also celebrating its 30th year anniversary in serving and creating holistic development and sustainable impact, Afrika Tikkun advocates for an inclusive and safer environment for women and children.
Hence, the organisation teaches Early Childhood Development learners about abuse in an age-appropriate manner through the Anti-Violence Buddies programme.
Afrika Tikkun COO, Tiyani Mohlaba, said the values of gender equality and violence related to GBV should be instilled in children in their early ages.
“We believe it is never too early to start educating our young people on gender equality and GBV-related issues.
“The communities we serve are characterised by high levels of GBV, in part due to the legacy of apartheid. GBV impacts the ability of young girls and women in our programmes to make the most of learning, employment and entrepreneurial opportunities.
“We must invest in targeted educational campaigns to challenge harmful attitudes and promote equality from an early age. Anything less is a disservice to the progress we aim to achieve,” said Mohlaba.
The Star