Women For Change (WFC) is a non-profit organisation that advocates for the constitutional rights of women and children in South Africa. It was founded in 2016 by Catch Me If You Can, the country’s largest running community for women.
WFC educates, advocates, and campaigns on Gender-Based Violence & Femicide (GBVF), Human Rights, and Gender Equality daily.
We engage the general public through our social media pages, which currently reach up to 10 million people per month. We influence policymakers and public opinion.
WFC assists victims and families daily with resources such as medical assistance, legal assistance, counsellors, information about GBVF and how to handle each case.
We have mobilised thousands of women, men, and children to participate in our nationwide Women For Change Runs. These events create safe and healthy environments for all to join the fight against GBVF.
Gender-based violence and femicide are profound and widespread problems in South Africa. In urban and rural communities, women and children are brutalised every day across the country. Lack of action by the government allows perpetrators to act with impunity.
Facts about GBVF in South Africa:
- The rate of femicide in South Africa is 5x higher than the global average.
- One woman is murdered every 2.5 hours.
- 3 914 women were murdered in 2022/23.
- 1 122 children were murdered in 2022/23.
- 43 037 rape cases were reported to the police in 2022/23.
- 53 888 sexual offences were reported to the police in 2022/23.
- It is estimated that more than 95% of sexual offences are not reported.
- South Africa has the 4th highest death rate from interpersonal violence of 183 countries– the highest rate outside a war zone.
These terrifying statistics show that gender-based violence and femicide are at crisis levels.
Our aim is to raise awareness, seek justice for survivors and create a country in which there are consequences for abuse.
Support us to end GBVF
Media Releases
ENCA – Women For Change Race, Sandton City 2019
SABC The Agenda – Women For Change @ The Agenda
News24 – Watch Thousands of Women Run Through Tokai Forest
All4Women.co.za – PICS: Thousand of Women Run Through Tokai Forest
Sandton Chronicel – Women run to make a change
Sandton Chronicel – Women’s running club launches anti-rape campaign
GoodThingsGuy – Women are running for change in South Africa, hoping to end GBV for good!