At first glance, the sight of The Proteas dressed in all black might look unusual on a cricket field. But behind the colour lies a powerful message – one that goes beyond the boundaries and scoreboards.
Cricket South Africa and The Proteas Women are taking a powerful stand against one of South Africa’s most critical societal issues: gender-based violence (GBV), with the hosting of the annual Black Day Event.
This impactful event aims to use the immense platform of international cricket to amplify the message to #EndGBV and bring much-needed light to the affliction of GBV within communities.
The Proteas women will don their distinctive all-black kit, symbolising mourning for those lost and solidarity with survivors while acknowledging strides made to collecting end the scourge.
The annual Black Day event is a critical moment for the nation to pause and confront the reality of GBV – an indefensible act that leaves lifelong psychological scars and affects countless women and children regardless of race, age, religion, or sexual orientation.
The urgency of this initiative is underscored by the sobering statistics surrounding GBV in South Africa. The most recent national study by the Human Sciences Research Council found that a third, or 33.1%, of South African women aged 18 and older have experienced physical violence in their lifetime, which translates to an estimated 7.3 million women. Furthermore, 9.9% of women and children have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime, an estimated 2.15 million women and children.
Cricket South Africa and The Proteas Women are taking a powerful stand against one of South Africa’s most critical societal scourge: gender-based violence (GBV), with the hosting of the annual Black Day Event.
GBV, an indefensible act that leaves a life-long psychological scar on the victim, does not discriminate, and can affect or be committed by any person regardless of their race, age, religion, gender, or sexual orientation, with mostly South African women and children at risk.
Black Day is a day where our Proteas Women’s team dresses in Black as part of its inbound bilateral tour One Day International to raise awareness and rally the public and fans to show their support as part of ending this scourge.
1 in 3 women and/or children are affected by some of gender-based violence and this has led to the South African President declaring GBV as the second pandemic facing the country.
In response, CSA and The Proteas Women will continue with its annual Black Day event with the objective to:
CSA works closely with POWA (People Opposing Women Abuse) with the intention to achieve these stated objectives.
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