NPA men to stage silent picket as 16 Days of Activism campaign begins

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Men Ambassadors will lead a silent picket at the institution’s head office in Pretoria on Tuesday as part of this year’s 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign.

The event forms part of the NPA’s GBV 2025 Call to Action under the theme “Men of the NPA Against GBVF.” It aims to signal the institution’s collective stance against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), and to encourage accountability and respect within the criminal justice system and society at large.

Deputy National Director of Public Prosecutions, Adv Anton du Plessis, is expected to deliver the keynote address.

The programme includes a silent protest, a pledge-signing session, and a candle-lighting ceremony. Executives and employees from across the NPA will join the Men Ambassadors in what the authority describes as a symbolic show of solidarity with survivors of violence.

“Gender-based violence and femicide continue to afflict South African society, inflicting trauma, loss and injustice,” the NPA said, adding that prosecutors play a central role in advancing justice for survivors and promoting a culture of dignity.

The campaign calls on men within the NPA to publicly stand together against all forms of GBV and femicide, and reaffirms the institution’s commitment to justice, equality and social transformation.

“Through this initiative, all men within the NPA are called upon to stand up publicly and collectively against all forms of GBV and femicide in solidarity with their female colleagues,” NPA said.