{{Short description|South African civil society organisation}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2026}} {{Use South African English|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox organization | name = <!-- defaults to {{PAGENAME}}, if not provided --> | full_name = | native_name = <!-- organization's name in its local language --> | native_name_lang = <!-- required ISO 639-1 code of the above native language --> | logo = Women For Change Logo.png | logo_size = | logo_alt = | logo_caption = | image = | image_size = | image_alt = <!-- see WP:ALT --> | caption = | map = <!-- map image --> | map_size = <!-- defaults to 250px --> | map_alt = | map_caption = | map2 = <!-- 2nd map image, if required --> | map2_size = | map2_alt = | map2_caption = | mapframe = yes<!-- see below for more options --> | abbreviation = WFC | nickname = | pronunciation = | pronounce_ref = | pronounce_comment = | named_after = | predecessor = | merged_into = <!-- any other organization(s) which it was merged into --> | successor = | formation = {{start date and age|2016}} | founder = Sabrina Walter | founding_location = | dissolved = <!-- or |defunct = --><!-- use {{end date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> | merger = <!-- other organizations (if any) merged with, to constitute the new organization --> | type = Nonprofit{{bullet}}Advocacy group | tax_id = <!-- or |vat_id = (for European organizations) --> | registration_id = 219-909 | status = <!-- legal status or description (company, charity, foundation, etc.) --> | purpose = Combating gender-based violence and femicide | professional_title = <!-- for professional associations --> | headquarters = | coordinates = <!-- {{coord|LAT|LON|display=inline,title}} --> | origins = | region_served = South Africa | products = <!-- or |product = --> | services = | methods = <!-- or |method = --> | fields = <!-- or |field = --> | membership = <!-- number of members --> | num_members_year = <!-- year to which membership numbers/data apply --> | language = <!-- or |languages = --><!-- any official language or languages used --> | owner = <!-- or |owners = --> | secretary_general = <!-- or |gen_sec for General Secretary --> | leader_title = <!-- defaults to "Leader" --> | leader_name = | leader_title2 = | leader_name2 = | leader_title3 = | leader_name3 = | leader_title4 = | leader_name4 = | board_of_directors = | key_people = | main_organ = <!-- organization's principal body (assembly, committee, board, etc.) or publication --> | publication = <!-- for when principal body is entered and separate publication exists --> | parent_organization = <!-- or |parent_organisation = --> | subsidiaries = | secessions = | affiliations = | ror_id = <!-- unique ID in the Research Organization Registry --> | budget = | budget_year = | revenue = {{increase}} {{ZAR|340,968}}<ref name="a781">{{cite web |title=WFC – Financial Statements for the year ended 28 February 2025 |url=https://womenforchange.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/AFS-2024-25-WFC-CMIYC-NPO_upload.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251212041117/https://womenforchange.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/AFS-2024-25-WFC-CMIYC-NPO_upload.pdf |url-status=dead|archive-date=12 December 2025 |access-date=6 May 2026}}</ref> | revenue_year = 2024 | disbursements = | expenses = | expenses_year = | endowment = | endowment_year = | funding = Donations{{bullet}}Fundraising | num_staff = | num_staff_year = | num_volunteers = | num_volunteers_year = | num_students = | num_students_year = | awards = | website = {{URL|https://womenforchange.co.za}} | remarks = | former_name = <!-- or |former_name = --> | footnotes = | bodystyle = }} '''Women For Change''' (often abbreviated '''WFC''') is a South African civil society organisation and advocacy movement focused on combating gender-based violence and femicide through public mobilisation, petitions, and protest campaigns.<ref name="m592">{{cite web |last=Mashishi |first=Naledi |title=Women for Change: From a running club to global voice for survivors of gender-based violence |website=Daily Maverick |date=23 December 2025 |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-12-23-women-for-change-from-a-running-club-to-ng-club-to-global-voice-for-survivors-of/ |access-date=11 January 2026}}</ref><ref name="g285">{{cite web |title=South Africa's G20 Women's Shutdown – a turning point for ending gender-based violence and femicide? |website=UN Women – Headquarters |date=25 November 2025 |url=https://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/news/2025/11/south-africas-g20-womens-shutdown-a-turning-point-for-ending-gender-based-violence-and-femicide |access-date=11 January 2026}}</ref> The organisation played a prominent role in organising nationwide actions and petitions that drew widespread media attention during 2025 calling for government recognition of GBVF as a national disaster.<ref name="g285"/><ref name="y613">{{cite web |last=Williams |first=Jessie |title=South Africa declares gender-based violence a national disaster amid G20 protests |website=The Guardian |date=22 November 2025 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/nov/22/south-africa-g20-protests-gender-based-violence-national-disaster |access-date=11 January 2026}}</ref>
==History and background== In 2016, Women For Change was founded by Sabrina Walter.<ref name="q427">{{cite web |last=Guzana |first=Alulutho |title=A national disaster – and that's official! GBV activist Sabrina's tireless campaign pays off big-time |website=News24 |date=9 January 2026 |url=https://www.news24.com/you/news/local/a-national-disaster-and-thats-official-gbv-activist-sabrinas-tireless-campaign-pays-off-big-time-20260109-1003 |access-date=11 January 2026}}</ref> The organisation made use of social media and grassroots mobilisation to highlight high levels of violence against women and children and to encourage public engagement on the issue. By 2025, Women For Change had gained significant national prominence, with its campaigns attracting extensive local and international media coverage.<ref name="i975">{{cite web |last=Selisho |first=Kaunda |title=SA turns purple: Women For Change leads fight against gender-based violence crisis |website=News24 |date=10 November 2025 |url=https://www.news24.com/life/relationships/sa-turns-purple-women-for-change-leads-fight-against-gender-based-violence-crisis-20251110-0960 |access-date=11 January 2026}}</ref>
==Campaigns== ===Petition to declare GBVF a national disaster=== In 2025, WFC launched a major petition campaign on Change.org urging the South African government to declare gender-based violence and femicide a national disaster. The petition amassed to over a million signatures.<ref name="o841">{{cite web |last=Mtembu |first=Xolile |title=Petition surpasses one million signatures, urging South Africa to declare GBV a national disaster |website=IOL |date=14 November 2025 |url=https://iol.co.za/capeargus/news/2025-11-14-petition-surpasses-one-million-signatures-urging-south-africa-to-declare-gbv-a-national-disaster/ |access-date=11 January 2026}}</ref>
===G20 Women's shutdown and protests=== In November 2025, ahead of the G20 Summit hosted in Johannesburg, Women For Change organised a nationwide campaign called the G20 Women's Shutdown, urging women and allies to withdraw from paid and unpaid work for a day to demonstrate the economic and social impact of violence against women.<ref name="b279">{{cite web |last=Khuzwayo |first=Zuziwe |title=When women lie down, a nation must stand up |website=Daily Maverick |date=16 December 2025 |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2025-12-16-when-women-lie-down-a-nation-must-stand-up-gbv-is-a-social-justice-crisis/ |access-date=11 January 2026}}</ref> Protesters wore symbolic colours and participated in lie-down demonstrations to highlight the human toll of GBVF.<ref name="c784">{{cite web |last=Ngcobo |first=Khanyisile |title=South Africa declares gender violence a national disaster after protests |website=BBC Home |date=21 November 2025 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn979g302l9o |access-date=11 January 2026}}</ref><ref name="h425">{{cite web |last=Gumede |first=Michelle |title=South African women stage lie-down protest against gender-based violence ahead of G20 summit |website=AP News |date=21 November 2025 |url=https://apnews.com/article/women-south-africa-g20-protest-violence-gender-d729680eebe7750bc54119c32b78a8a4 |access-date=11 January 2026}}</ref><ref name="i712">{{cite web |last=Mandoyi |first=Sindeka |title=Purple takes over South Africa: National shutdown calls for action on gender based violence |website=Glamour SA's Latest Trends and Stories |date=12 November 2025 |url=https://www.glamour.co.za/lifestyle/women-in-charge/purple-takes-over-south-africa-national-shutdown-calls-for-action-on-gender-based-violence-4632635e-83cf-44ea-9812-a47e70cd9624 |access-date=11 January 2026}}</ref>
Following these and further campaigns, along with public pressure, the president of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, officially classified gender-based violence and femicide as a national disaster on 21 November 2025, with Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Velenkosini Hlabisa, welcoming the decision.<ref name="c784"/><ref name="a848">{{cite web |title=South Africa declares gender-based violence and femicide a national disaster |website=IndustriALL |date=27 November 2025 |url=https://www.industriall-union.org/south-africa-declares-gender-based-violence-and-femicide-a-national-disaster |access-date=11 January 2026}}</ref><ref name="g850">{{cite web |last=Roberts |first=Lillian |title=Gender-based violence and femicide declared national disaster, but with caveats |website=Daily Maverick |date=21 November 2025 |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-11-21-genderbased-violence-and-femicide-declared-national-disaster-but-with-caveats/ |access-date=11 January 2026}}</ref><ref name="b790">{{cite web |last=Solomons |first=Lisalee |title=Gender-based violence and femicide declared a national disaster |website=News24 |date=21 November 2025 |url=https://www.news24.com/southafrica/news/gender-based-violence-and-femicide-declared-a-national-disaster-20251121-0635 |access-date=11 January 2026}}</ref>
Women For Change publicly celebrated this outcome on social platforms, framing it as a victory for activists and survivors.<ref>{{cite web |title=GBVF classified a National Disaster in South Africa |url=https://womenforchange.co.za/gbvf-classified-a-national-disaster-in-south-africa |website=Women For Change |access-date=11 January 2026 |language=en-ZA}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
Category:Advocacy groups in South Africa Category:Women's organisations based in South Africa Category:Non-profit organisations based in South Africa