Call for Responsible Parties to Scale up Institutional Response to Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) in South Africa and Lesotho

Violence against women and girls is a critical issue in Sub-Saharan Africa. In South Africa and Lesotho, Gender Based Violence rates are among the highest globally. South Africa’s femicide rate is five times the global average, while about one in three women in Lesotho have experienced intimate partner violence. Despite legislative progress, implementation gaps and limited institutional capacity persist. Recognizing this challenge, UN Women will engage responsible parties to mobilize partnerships across sectors to shift social norms, strengthen institutional responses, use multimedia and interpersonal approaches to engage communities to prevent GBV and support respectful relationships at the community level.