The Southern Africa Gender Protocol Alliance says that more than three quarters of South African men have perpetrated violence against women in their lifetime and more than half of women in South Africa have experienced gender-based violence.

This shows that more than half of the women in South Africa have fallen victim to the violent individuals that share the same country. The remaining few, are haunted by the harsh reality of being part of a violent cycle.

However, technology seems to be the answer to overcoming gender-based violence.

Women’s Net is a South African based non-governmental organisation that works to advance gender equality. They focus on the intersection between gender and information and communication technologies (ICTs). “We recognise that ICTs are a gendered tool and aim to address imbalances in women and men’s access to and meaningful use of ICT’s”, Women’s Net.

Women’s Net uses digital media to tell stories about women who have experienced gender-based violence. They have set up a number of projects, which use digital media to give women a voice.

Take back Tech, is one of the most fundamental projects in asserting women’s rights and creating a platform for equality in the ICT industry that Women’s Net is involved with. Together with Women’s Net is The Association for Progressive Communications Women’s Networking Support Programme (APCWNSP).

This programme is an international network that was set up to “advance women’s rights through the strategic use of information and communications technologies”, Women’s Net.

This project aims to mobilise stakeholders to stop violence against women and girls by building feminist analysis into global, regional and national ICT policy. They also aim towards building the capacity of women and adolescent girls and women’s rights organisations to use, reclaim and shape ICT to stop violence against women and girls.

Lastly they want to create platforms and opportunities for women and adolescent girls to critically engage with ICTs to combat violence, and as survivors of violence to contribute towards self and collective healing.

It is always comforting to know that there are organisations that take an active stand against gender-based violence. This is imperative especially in a country where more than half of women experience gender-based violence.