On November 1st, 2021, South Africa held crucial local government elections that enabled citizens to select councils for every district, metropolitan, and local municipality across all nine provinces. Young Women for Life (YWFL), a dynamic organization dedicated to empowering women, seized this opportunity to advocate for increased female representation in political offices.
YWFL recognized that electing more women was just the first step; they also wanted to ensure that these newly elected officials would be at the forefront of combating the pervasive issue of gender-based violence. In the lead-up to the 2021 elections, an impressive number of women courageously stood as candidates, actively seeking the support and votes of their fellow women.
YWFL played a vital role in connecting these candidates with young women voters by organizing engaging webinars. These virtual events provided a platform for young women to directly question the candidates about their plans and commitments to advancing gender justice once elected as councilors. By facilitating this dialogue, YWFL not only amplified the voices of young women but also held the candidates accountable to their constituents, fostering a sense of transparency and trust. Through their tireless efforts, YWFL demonstrated their unwavering dedication to promoting women’s political participation and advocating for concrete actions to combat gender-based violence at the local government level.
Below, you can view a recording of one the webinars:
