MIDRAND, SOUTH AFRICA – Day 14 at the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) has shifted focus to critical issues of women’s equality, gender-based violence (GBV), and femicide, with civil society organizations demanding accountability from leaders.
Sihle Sibisi, Founder of Kwanele Foundation, a South African CSO affiliated with PAP, spoke passionately about the disconnect between progressive “model laws” and the grim realities on the ground.
“Model laws are good, but on the ground, female genital mutilation is still happening, breast ironing is still happening,” Sibisi stated, highlighting the hidden horrors prevalent in some communities.
These practices, often justified under cultural pretenses, are profound forms of gender-based violence and femicide. Sibisi emphasized that these deeply rooted ills are frequently “kept hush-hush within communities” despite their devastating impact.
Kwanele Foundation, a dedicated advocate against GBV and femicide, works within the PAP to ensure that the continent’s challenges find African solutions.
“Our role as Kwanele Foundation is to make sure that we strive for, educate for, and amplify for gender-based violence and a free Africa for all,” Sibisi affirmed.
Her powerful message underscores the urgent need for tangible action and rigorous oversight to bridge the gap between policy and practice, ensuring that the rights and safety of women and girls across Africa are truly protected.
