SA leads call for inclusion of African and Global South voices in gender-based violence discussions
In a plea at the 5th World Conference of Women’s Shelters, the National Shelter Movement of South Africa has urged for immediate measures to ensure that voices from Africa and the Global South are recognised and represented in international discussions on gender-based violence.
Dr Zubeda Dangor, Head of the NSMSA Executive, spoke during the Africa Regional Plenary about the continent’s crucial role in the global women’s shelter movement.
Representing over 100 shelters across South Africa, the NSMSA also addressed the ongoing challenges of restrictive visa regimes, limited funding, and a lack of regional inclusion that hamstring the global fight against GBV.
Dangor reminded attendees of the systemic barriers obstructing participation from African leaders, which continue to undermine their contributions on the world stage.
“When visas are withheld and when women leaders from Africa are treated with suspicion, it suggests that their contributions are less valuable and that their expertise is less credible. We refuse to accept this. Their voices are not only relevant but essential to our collective mission. We need greater representation of African experts on these global platforms, and there are many,” she said.
“For decades, women in Africa have built shelters from nothing, supported survivors through war and conflict, and sustained hope in the face of unthinkable adversity. To exclude them is to impoverish this network, weaken the global movement, and undermine the very spirit of inclusivity on which it was founded,” added Dangor.
Joy Lange, a Board Member of NSMSA, further highlighted the disparity in funding between international counterparts and African shelters.
Lange explains that while organisations in other countries often receive between 60% to 100% in government funding, including support from initiatives like Australia’s CommBank Next Chapter, African shelters continue to navigate the turbulent waters of limited and unpredictable support.
Despite these adversities, Lange noted that South African shelters are innovating and outperforming expectations.
From the frontline perspectives, Nadia Munsamy, representing KwaZulu-Natal shelters, echoed the universal challenges faced by shelter leaders worldwide while emphasising the unique resilience of African women.
“Many countries face similar issues, patriarchy, financial constraints, and state neglect. But African women have sustained hope through community-led, resourceful responses. We must ensure that future conferences reflect this resilience by amplifying African-led solutions, not sidelining them,” she asserted.
In a show of unity, Dangor and the African Caucus pledged to engage constructively with the Global Network of Women’s Shelters (GNWS) to dismantle systemic barriers to participation. Their commitments included addressing restrictive visa policies through diplomatic channels, convening an in-person African caucus meeting to fortify collaboration, and advocating for the 6th World Conference of Women’s Shelters to be hosted in Africa, with South Africa as a proposed host country.
“Our strength lies in our diversity, our power lies in our unity, and our future depends on ensuring that every voice is heard, especially those most often silenced. Let us stand together against exclusion. Let us declare that no border, no policy, and no prejudice will divide us, for the safety, dignity, and rights of women everywhere, we stand united,” said Dangor.
Saturday Star