President Ramaphosa Urges Men to Act Against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide

The call to action was launched by President Ramaphosa during a ceremony at Pofadder in the Northern Cape, held in conjunction with Women’s Day last week.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has issued a powerful call to action, urging men across South Africa to take a stand against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF). In a statement released on Tuesday, the Presidency emphasized the need for a united effort to combat GBVF and encouraged men who uphold positive values to help others correct their behavior and report abuse.

The call to action was launched by President Ramaphosa during a ceremony at Pofadder in the Northern Cape, held in conjunction with Women’s Day last week. At the event, the President signed a pledge alongside various leaders, including Northern Cape Premier Dr. Zamani Saul, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Alvin Botes, and representatives from provincial executive, local government, community organizations, and educational institutions.

The pledge commits signatories to support gender equality and work towards ending GBVF by adopting positive behaviors and attitudes. Men are promised to never resort to violence against women, to treat women as equals, to respect their rights, and to relate to them with dignity.

The virtual pledge can be accessed and signed at https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/endGBVF. This initiative aims to foster a collective responsibility among men to create a safer and more equitable society for women.