In late November 2025, a powerful wave of activism swept across South Africa as tens of thousands of citizens participated in a nationwide "shutdown" protest against gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide. Demonstrators lay on the ground for 15 minutes, a sobering tribute to the 15 women murdered daily in the country. The following day, President Cyril Ramaphosa took the extraordinary step of declaring violence against women a "national disaster," aiming to accelerate emergency resources for survivor services. This declaration, according to Reuters, was met with cautious optimism by activists who have long sought government recognition of the crisis, though many argue that the fight is far from over—especially for children, who make up nearly half of sexual offence victims in South Africa.
The urgency of South Africa's GBV crisis cannot be overstated. The murder rate for women in the country is five times the global average, a chilling statistic that has galvanized civil society, advocacy groups, and ordinary citizens alike. Yet, as the spotlight shines on women, child rights advocates warn that the youngest victims are at risk of being sidelined. In 2022-23, children accounted for 47% of reported sexual assault cases, with girls aged 0-17 years comprising two-thirds of those victims. The Teddy Bear Clinic and Johannesburg Child Welfare, among other organizations, have sounded the alarm: without targeted support, child survivors are left particularly vulnerable.
Resource constraints have only sharpened the crisis. Funding shortfalls for frontline charities have intensified, especially in the wake of cuts to U.S. foreign aid. As a result, organizations on the ground are struggling to provide essential services, from psychosocial support to safe shelters. The Ministry for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities faces mounting pressure to prioritize children in its response, while families of survivors and grassroots activists demand measurable action. "We need ring-fenced funding for survivor services, improved reporting mechanisms, and education programs on consent and gender equality," one advocate told Reuters. The message is clear: declarations must be matched by tangible change.
South Africa's reckoning with gender-based violence is part of a larger, global movement that gained renewed momentum in December 2025. On December 2, the Design Museum in London played host to the launch of "All In," a global coalition dedicated to confronting the worldwide epidemic of violence against women. The event drew campaigners from across the globe, including Tarana Burke, the founder of the Me Too movement and a tireless advocate for women's rights. As the UK Foreign Secretary declared violence against women an emergency both domestically and internationally, the sense of urgency was palpable.
Tarana Burke's journey is emblematic of the global struggle against sexual and gender-based violence. Of Caribbean descent and raised in the Bronx, Burke's activism was shaped by her own childhood trauma. She recounted to a journalist at the All In launch how, as a young girl, she was raped by a boy no older than ten. "I remember looking at him and wondering what I had done wrong," Burke shared, a sentiment echoed by countless survivors worldwide. Her early advocacy, rooted in racial justice and economic equality, eventually led her to Alabama State University, where a chance encounter with a young girl named Heaven (a pseudonym) crystallized her mission. Burke later reflected, "I was overcome with regret that I had not simply said the words 'Me too.'"
In 2006, Burke founded the Just Be movement, out of which the Me Too initiative grew. Initially focused on violence against Black women and girls, the movement aimed to unite survivors and teach them that healing is an ongoing journey, not a destination. Burke's message was radical in its simplicity: "It is the perpetrator who should be ashamed." Through her work with The Art Sanctuary in Philadelphia and her partnership with Dani Ayers, who would later become CEO of the Me Too organization, Burke built a platform rooted in empowerment and solidarity.
The world finally caught up with Burke's vision in October 2017, when the #MeToo hashtag exploded on social media following revelations of Hollywood executive Harvey Weinstein's predatory behavior. Actress Alyssa Milano's viral tweet sparked millions of responses, but Milano made clear that the movement was much bigger than Hollywood. She reached out to Burke, recognizing her years of groundwork. Together, Burke and Ayers set about transforming Me Too into a global force, dismantling the cultural norms and systems that enable sexual and gender-based violence while fostering healing and post-traumatic growth.
The statistics shared at the All In launch in London were sobering. Globally, one in three women and girls will experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. Each day, 140 women and girls are killed by a partner or close relative, totaling more than 50,000 deaths annually. The UK, too, faces its own reckoning: in 2024, one in eight women experienced domestic abuse, stalking, or sexual assault. Australia stands out as having the highest rate of violence against women in the Western world, with 78 women killed due to gender-based violence in 2024—an increase of 14 from the previous year, marking the worst year on record.
For Burke and fellow campaigners, the launch of All In is both a rallying cry and a promise. "There is no place for this heinous violence in the twenty-first century," speakers declared, pledging to eradicate it for future generations. Burke's message is unwavering: safety must become a universal value, reimagined and accessible to everyone. She encourages women to "find joy in their work, know their values, and recognize what lights them up," even as powerful interests attempt to halt the movement. "We will continue until violence against women is no longer a part of life," Burke insisted at the event.
Back in South Africa, the fight continues. Civil society remains deeply committed to prioritizing children, engaging schools and communities as part of a long-term strategy to combat GBV. Activists are adamant that the national disaster declaration must lead to concrete reforms: dedicated funding, improved support systems, and robust education initiatives. The work is daunting, but the resolve is unshakeable.
The global epidemic of violence against women and girls is a challenge of staggering scale, but the activism seen in South Africa and at the All In launch in London offers hope. As leaders, advocates, and survivors unite across continents, the message is clear—change is not only necessary, it is possible. With every protest, every declaration, and every story shared, the movement grows stronger, inching closer to a world where safety and dignity are the birthright of all.