This archive report was first published on 14 December 2019.
South Africa is grappling with a devastating crisis of femicide, with a staggering number of women falling victim to murder every year.
According to the World Health Organization, approximately 3,000 women were murdered in South Africa in 2018, a rate more than five times higher than the global average.
This alarming trend has been on the rise, with a 11% increase in recorded murders of women between 2017 and 2018.
In a bid to raise awareness about this issue, a campaign was launched in Johannesburg, in collaboration with the women's rights group People Opposing Women Abuse (POWA).
The campaign featured a striking red map painted in fake blood, highlighting the excuses men use to justify their violent behavior, including 'I was drunk.'
The exhibition, which opened on November 26, was created by Roanna Williams, an executive creative director of the advertising agency Black River FC.
Williams stated, 'Most women in South Africa have a story of sexual abuse, we are not just trying to shock, we are showing that this is everyone's problem and we all need to act, not just during 16 Days of Activism, but 365 days of the year.'
Despite the efforts to raise awareness, recent cases of murder, rape, and kidnapping of South African women have sparked outrage, with women calling for justice for rape survivors.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a five-point plan to tackle violence against women.
