The walk will serve as a powerful reminder of the ongoing fight against GBV, bringing the community together to stand in solidarity with survivors and those affected. The honorary walk poster
WomanPACT and the Newlands East Humanitarian Society will host an honorary walk against gender-based violence (GBV) on August 31 at the Garrupa Grounds.
WomanPACT advocates against GBV and works to empower women, while the Newlands East Humanitarian Society focuses on humanitarian aid in the community.
Shazia Khan of WomanPACT, said the collaboration was the result a shared commitment to ending GBV and supporting survivors.
“WomanPACT's mission is to support and uplift women, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds by creating safe spaces, raising awareness and driving social change in our communities. This honorary walk aims to pay tribute to GBV victims and honour their memories.
"It will also serve as a powerful reminder of the ongoing fight against GBV, bringing the community together to stand in solidarity with survivors and those affected. By walking together, we are amplifying the call for justice and encouraging a collective commitment to ending GBV,” said Khan.
She said everyone who believed in the fight against GBV was encouraged to join.
“This is not just a women’s issue. It affects all members of society and we welcome men, women and children to walk with us. The more united we stand, the stronger our message becomes. It’s a powerful way to show support, remember those we’ve lost, and commit to preventing future violence.”
She said their primary goal was to honour the victims of GBV and bring awareness to the issue.
"We also aim to strengthen community bonds and foster a sense of solidarity in the fight against GBV. By coming together, we hope to inspire change, both in attitudes and actions, and to encourage more people to take an active stance against violence in all its forms."
WomanPACT has also been involved in several initiatives, including women empowerment workshops and social media advocacy.
"These initiatives are part of our broader mission to provide support to victims of GBV, educate the public, and advocate for stronger legal protections and community interventions."
She said they were planning a month-long programme in September and October to continue their activism; focusing on areas like Phoenix and Durban central, where the need was great.
"Additionally, we are working on creating more support networks for survivors and launching new initiatives that target the root causes of GBV, including education and economic empowerment programmes for women.”
The director and founder of the Newlands East Humanitarian Society, Dr Nadia Bernon, said the organisation was established by the Department of Social Development in 2021 as an information sharing organisation dealing with domestic violence, GBV and substance abuse.
“We saw a need in the community as we came across many cases of GBV and sexual violence and substance abuse. We became proactive in reaching out to assist our community and bring about the necessary change. We aim to empower families and include people from all walks of life."
Bernon added: “We implement structured information sharing sessions on GBV for men, women and youth. We hold anti-bullying campaigns for school learners during the holidays. We also do community engagements such as candlelight vigils, motorcades and honorary walks with different organisations as well as other community initiatives. Community members should assist by speaking out and being whistle blowers of GBV.”
Their other aim is the alleviation of hunger through food distribution of food parcels, and a soup kitchen
Bernon said the honorary walk stemmed from their wildflower project that they had in partnership with WomanPact in honour of Sharon Munian who had passed away.
“This walk is meant to honour all fallen queens and remember their names and not lose them in the wind. We need to honour them. Most of their cases were closed and the perpetrators were never accountable for their actions and people are still living with scars and trauma. They have no support. On this day with the walk, we want to honour them.”
The honorary walk will be held at the Garrupa Grounds in Newlands East from 9am to noon.
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