Why we tell women to be careful instead of stopping killings
Why is the first thing we tell women when other women are killed that they need to be more careful, asks women's rights activist.
This brief discusses the contentious issue of why women are often advised to take precautions against violence instead of addressing the root causes and addressing the systemic issues that lead to femicide. The author, with experience in women's rights and gender-based violence, shares personal feelings of fear and frustration over the repeated messages to women to be more vigilant and cautious.
While safety advice has its place in addressing imminent threats, the author argues that women should not have to become experts in risk assessment simply to live ordinary lives. The author calls for a shift in focus to the state's responsibility, emphasizing the need for the state to respect, protect, promote, and fulfill the rights of women as outlined in South Africa's constitution.
The author highlights the scale of the problem, citing statistics on the prevalence of physical and sexual violence against women in South Africa, and points to the declaration of gender-based violence and femicide as a national crisis and disaster. The author emphasizes the importance of accountability and calls for the National Council on GBVF to be held accountable for concrete measures to prevent and respond to gender-based violence and femicide before it occurs.
Brief written by urgent.news from The Citizen's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
