Roar for the cause at Sisters with Blisters

FOR the first time in Durban, East Coast Radio and 1st for Women have teamed up to host the Sisters with Blisters protest walk against gender-based violence on Sunday, 20 November. The walk will be at the Chris Saunders Park at Centenary Boulevard in Umhlanga.

South Africa has one of the highest rates of violence against women in the world and the Department of Justice estimated that one out of every four South African women are survivors of domestic violence.

From 2014 to 2015, it was estimated that 563 841 sexual offences occurred but only 62 649 sexual offences were reported. Of these, only 8 174 sexual offences cases went to court and only one per cent of the perpetrators received jail time for their crimes.

“We still have a long way to go before gender-based violence is a subject that can be freely spoken about,” said East Coast Radio’s marketing manager, Renée Burton. “Through the diverse appeal of this event, we simultaneously shatter perceptions that gender-based violence only occurs in certain communities. It could be your mother, sister, aunt, friend or colleague. It’s everyone’s problem and we will be bringing the issue to light.”

“More can and must be done to highlight this injustice. Every case of a woman being abused is a case too many. Too many survivors continue to suffer in silence and it’s our joint responsibility to do whatever possible to change this,” said Casey Rousseau, a spokesman for 1st for Women Insurance and the 1st for Women Foundation.

“This will be the largest peaceful protest of its kind – a chance for men, women and children to come together, walk as one and make our collective voices heard. There is strength in numbers and with that strength comes power – the power to make a difference,” said Rousseau.

Entry is R80 for the 5km walk and R35 for pensioners and children under 12 years old. You can enter online at www.sisterswithblisters.co.za/