Powerful Silent Protest Precedes Global Summit
Hundreds of women dressed in solemn black gathered in a Johannesburg park on Friday, 21st November 2025, staging a poignant lie-down protest against the devastating toll of gender-based violence in South Africa. The demonstration was strategically timed one day before the commencement of the Group of 20 summit, drawing global attention to a crisis that claims an average of 15 women's lives daily.
A Nation Grappling With Alarming Statistics
South Africa, despite championing progressive gender policies during its G20 presidency, confronts a femicide rate reported by U.N. Women to be five times higher than the global average. This deeply entrenched problem has plagued the nation for decades. The 15-minute silent protest, organised by the non-profit Women for Change, symbolised a minute of silence for each life typically lost to gender violence in a single day.
19-year-old protest coordinator Courtney Gelderblom explained the profound symbolism to The Associated Press: "Every minute that we lie in silence is to mourn and honour those we have lost." The nonviolent action saw participation from ordinary citizens, celebrities, and activists across several South African cities.
Government Response and Global Implications
The protest, which culminated a month of intense lobbying, proved highly effective. A supporting petition amassed more than one million signatures, leading to a significant government announcement on the same day. In a decisive move, authorities declared gender-based violence a national disaster, compelling action and resource allocation to combat the issue.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged the crisis at a G20 civil society sideline summit, stating, "The women of our country are crying out that they need much more focus on the issue." Gender violence expert Professor Corné Davis-Buitendag emphasised the protest's strategic timing, noting that gender-based violence severely impacts global development and carries substantial economic costs. She highlighted concerning trends, including an acceleration in child sex trafficking, which has become one of the world's largest illicit industries.
Despite existing legal frameworks and reforms designed to support victims, Professor Davis-Buitendag confirmed a grim reality: "the numbers are not going down." The Women for Change petition continues to urge concrete actions, including rejecting bail in significant cases, pursuing life sentences for offenders, and holding officials accountable for negligence.
