Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu will on Friday lead a human rights walk against gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide from Mary Fitzgerald Square to Constitutional Hill, in Johannesburg.

South Africans will celebrate Human Rights Day on Sunday in commemoration of sacrifices that accompanied the struggle for freedom and democracy.

As part of this year’s Human Rights Month programme, celebrated under the theme: The Year of Charlotte Maxeke: Promoting Human Rights in the Age of Covid 19, the walk aims to raise awareness about GBV as a “gross violation of human rights”.

According to the Department of Social Development (DSD) South Africa has one of the highest GBV rates in the world, with the femicide rate that is reportedly five times higher than the global average.

The DSD explained that the walk will include a dialogue with community-based organisations focusing on child protection and victim empowerment services, in Diepsloot, which has been identified as one of the 30 GBV hotspots in the country.  

Zulu will be joined by Gauteng Social Development MEC Mosupyoe Morakane, representatives of human rights and advocacy organisations, including UNICEF, the South African Human Rights Commission, the National Prosecuting Authority and ACT Now.

The walk coincides with the 65th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women currently underway to review the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which South Africa has ratified.

The walk is part of the 365 Days of Action to expedite the implementation of the National Strategic Plan on GBV and Femicide (2019-2024).