Faith Action to End Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Collective, in partnership with We Will Speak Out South Africa (WWSOSA), is calling on communities, workplaces, and faith institutions across South Africa to participate in the Red Chair Campaign as part of the annual United Nations (UN) 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, which began in 1991 and is observed each year from 25 November to 10 December.
According to UN Women, the 2024 theme for the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence under the UNiTE campaign is highlighting the alarming escalation of violence against women with the theme: “Every [11] Minutes[1], a woman is killed. #NoExcuse. UNiTE to End Violence Against Women.”
In South Africa, during the 2023/24 financial year, a staggering 24,942 women were murdered, marking a 9.1% increase compared to 2021/22. This equates to an average of approximately 68 women murdered each day. In the first quarter of the 2024/25 financial year (part of the 2023/24 reporting period), 966 women were murdered over three months, averaging about 11 women per day.
Therefore, there’s #NoExcuse not to get involved, raise awareness and end the “nightmare.” Thus, the Red Chair Campaign is a poignant initiative aimed at memorialising the countless women who have lost their lives to gender-based violence. By reserving a visibly empty chair draped in red fabric in places of worship, workspaces, and public venues, participants highlight the void left by each woman whose life was unjustly taken. This campaign is more than a symbol; it is a call to action and a plea to the faith sector to “ensure that no more women die in this way,” emphasised Daniela Gennrich, Coordinator of WWSOSA.
“Each empty red chair represents a life that should still be with us today—a mother, daughter, sister, or friend whose absence is a stark reminder of the brutal reality of GBV in our society. The Red Chair Campaign serves as a powerful invitation for all people of faith and goodwill to stand together against this crisis,” Gennrich stated.
A Three-Step Call to Action
Participation in the Red Chair Campaign is simple yet impactful. Faith Action invites institutions and individuals to:
- Display a chair in a public place within their faith institution or workplace.
- Cover the chair with red fabric and attach an informative poster about domestic abuse and GBV.
- Leave the chair empty as a visible reminder of the lives lost to gender-based violence.
Beyond mere awareness, the Red Chair Campaign encourages participants to customise the initiative. “We’re urging communities to adapt the campaign to local contexts,” she noted. “Whether by adding details of local support services, holding moments of silence, or integrating GBV messages into faith gatherings, each adaptation strengthens our collective impact.”
Why the Red Chair Campaign Matters
The campaign aligns with the government’s National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, recognising the role of faith-based organisations as critical stakeholders in addressing GBV. With South Africa ranked fourth globally in women’s homicides by intimate partners, the need for transformative action within communities and faith institutions is urgent.
This year’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence follows closely on the heels of the successful launch of the groundbreaking Interfaith GBV Prevention and Mitigation Strategy. This strategic initiative aims to establish faith communities as safe spaces of sanctuary, care, and healing, and to challenge harmful social, cultural, and religious norms that perpetuate violence. With a vision for an inclusive and peaceful South Africa, free from gender-based violence and femicide, the strategy calls on faith leaders and communities to play a crucial role in driving this transformation.
“Faith communities have a unique responsibility and power to challenge the harmful norms that have allowed violence to persist,” said Gennrich. “This strategy is more than words; it’s a collective commitment to actively build safe and inclusive spaces where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. It’s time for faith to lead the way in ending gender-based violence.”
In any event, she added: “True faith is not only about words but actions.” “We’re challenging harmful cultural and religious norms that perpetuate violence and advocating for faith spaces as sanctuaries of safety, care, and healing. The Red Chair Campaign is a way for faith communities to visibly demonstrate their commitment to gender justice actively,” she insisted.
Amplifying the Message through Public Engagement
Faith Action encourages all participants to share photos of their Red Chair installations and related activities on social media, tagging @WeWillSpeakOutSA and @FaithActionToEndGBV. By publicly standing against GBV, communities can add their voices to a growing movement for change, amplifying the message and inspiring others to act. This public engagement is crucial in spreading the message and inspiring a broader societal shift towards ending all forms of violence and abuse.
“This is about creating safe, inclusive spaces where everyone is treated with dignity and respect,” said Gennrich. “Together, we can foster a culture where compassion, love and mutual respect are not just ideals but realities actively practised. We hope the Red Chair Campaign will resonate beyond our faith communities, inspiring a broader societal shift towards ending all forms of violence and abuse,” she concluded.
For further details on how to join the Red Chair Campaign, please visit the Faith Action website at https://interfaithendgbv.org.za or contact WWSOSA at communication@wwsosa.org.za.
