Social Development uses Orange Day to renew call for action on GBVF

By Charmaine Ndlela

South Africa’s fight against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) remains far from over, with the Department of Social Development using this month’s Orange Day campaign to renew calls for stronger collective action to protect women and girls.

The department joined the global campaign on Tuesday, 25 August, as part of Women’s Month, highlighting the devastating impact of violence against women and girls and the urgent need to build safer communities.

Observed on the 25th of every month, Orange Day is part of the United Nations’ UNiTE campaign to raise awareness and encourage action to end violence against women and girls.

The campaign was launched in 2008 by then UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon under the banner UNiTE to End Violence against Women.

Orange Day was later introduced to maintain momentum beyond the annual 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign.

Orange is used