When a Country Celebrates its Women but can't Protect Them

South Africa commemorates Women's Month every August, honoring the bravery of women who marched to the Union Buildings in 1956. The nation highlights dignity, equality, empowerment, and women's vital role in the country. Government entities hold events, deliver speeches, introduce campaigns, and acknowledge women as mothers, leaders, professionals, workers, and nation-builders.

However, this celebration conceals a profound contradiction: South Africa claims to honor its women, yet many continue to live in dread of violence. Gender-based violence and femicide persist as significant scars on South African society, with women often assaulted, abused, violated, and killed by familiar individuals in places they should feel secure.

This contradiction reveals that while South Africa possesses legislation addressing domestic violence and sexual offenses, translating these laws into genuine protection remains a challenge. Despite having victim-friendly facilities and programs, government reports indicate that women still do not feel secure. The legal framework and policies exist, but the question remains: why do so many women remain unsafe?

The problem lies not only in the absence of legislation but in the State's inability to convert laws into protection. A law on paper does not shield a woman unless it is implemented effectively in the streets, police stations, courtrooms, and most crucially, before violence occurs. Government failure alone cannot explain gender-based violence; societal attitudes also play a role.

We must confront the societal issue of dehumanizing women, where men believe women are possessions or objects to be dominated, controlled, abused, or discarded. This mindset, along with the lack of education on respect and the role of families, schools, religious institutions, and communities, contributes to the problem. Men must also take responsibility in this crisis, recognizing that violence against women begins with the devaluation of women.

As South Africa seeks to create a society where women can live without fear, it must ask a crucial question: Are women in South Africa safer? Can a daughter go out without her parents worrying about her safety? Can a woman leave an abusive relationship with the assurance that the system will protect her? Can she report violence without facing humiliation or indifference?

Can she trust that the perpetrator will face meaningful consequences? Until these questions consistently receive a positive answer, the celebration of Women's Month remains incomplete. Women deserve a state that not only acknowledges their struggles on paper but actively ensures their protection in reality.