Thapelo Mosiuoa, 23, “Gender-based violence does not only mean violence against women, it includes violence against men as well. It is the emotional, physical and structural abuse from one gender to another. But predominately, we commemorate GBV to mean violence against women by men.What GBV means to me is people abusing other people who are considered lesser than them.”

Lauretta Mtlomelo, 24, “Young people need to start accepting each other as individuals, equality is important. GBV involves people being abused because of their gender or not being accepted for who they are. In South Africa lesbians and gays are also attacked because of who they are and we as a society need to accept everyone equally.”

Natasha Ndlebe, 23, “To me, GBV is when an individual uses their power as a man to violate or put pressure on someone else. Without being ignorant, it is evident that men are most likely to use their privilege and blame women for abuse because of the way they dress or because they’re considered inferior to men.”

Zoe Sprang, 23, “GBV to me is when someone is discriminated against because of their gender. It is the inferior – superior relationship between genders. I think it goes back to women mainly but with the rise in feminism and equality there are also women who believe they are superior.”

Abigail Javier, 25, “It is violence and discrimination towards women. I think people need to talk about it more because the only way people will know it is wrong is through more awareness. But it doesn’t just happen between a man and a woman. GBV also affects same-sex couples and non-romantic relationships.”

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Images by Kyle Kheswa