The National Shelter Movement of South Africa (NSMSA) heads to Sydney Australia this week, to participate in the 5th World Conference of Women’s Shelters (5WCWS) – the world’s largest gathering by and for those working on the frontline to end gender-based violence. Happening for the first time in the Southern Hemisphere, the conference runs from 15 to 18 September 2025.
“This is a great opportunity for our team to bring our hard-earned experience from South Africa straight to the global stage, which includes our knowledge on resourcing and sustainability and how to strengthen a national shelter network and mobilise resources effectively. we’ll be showcasing the realities of sheltering in a country with some of the world’s highest rates of gender-based violence,” says NSMSA.
Member of the NSMSA Board, Joy Lange – who will focus on Resourcing and Sustainability – says, “NGOs are vital in shaping human rights policies. In South Africa, shelters can mean the difference between life and death. Since 2008, the NSMSA has strived to unite voices, bolster policy, and uplift service provision. I’ll be sharing how we built capacity, sustained services, and mobilised advocacy across 95 shelters over 16 years.”
The 5WCWS provides an unparalleled platform to learn, share, collaborate and innovate. Over 1,000 delegates from more than 100 countries are expected to attend, exchanging ideas and approaches to transform how women’s shelters respond to gender-based violence worldwide.
At the conference, the NSMSA will also facilitate the Africa Regional Caucus group – in a bid to strengthen partnerships, share skills and learnings and best practices, and build solidarity to represent the continent in a more organised way.
Nadia Munsamy is the NSMSA’s Shelter Representative in KwaZulu-Natal and a Social Worker at Sahara Shelter in Phoenix. Focussing on Empowering Change in High-Risk Areas, Munsamy says, “With a woman killed every three hours (that’s 8 women every day), and over half of women reporting GBV experiences, shelters are a lifeline. Our research – especially in rural and high-violence areas – reveals improvements in survivors’ lives, but also serious gaps: care for male victims, LGBTQ+ individuals, adolescents, and disabled survivors. Plus, the disparity in resources between rural and urban areas needs urgent attention.”
The NSMSA will also share their innovative Action Learning Shelter Model, which provides shelters with practical tools, mentoring and governance support to improve survivor-centred services and ensure long-term impact.
The Action Learning Shelter Model will be presented by Dr Zubeda Dangor, Head of the Executive of NSMSA. She says, “Our pilot model – created with the Nisaa Institute – is helping shelters plug gaps in skills, governance and wellness programmes. Over two years, we mentored 11 shelters across eight provinces. I’m eager to share the lessons and introduce the handbook we have developed to support continuous improvement.”
Together, these contributions highlight the lessons the National Shelter Movement of South Africa has learned on the ground, showing how these can inform global strategies that protect, empower and uplift survivors of violence. The NSMSA will be joined by representatives from the Department of Social Development and the Heinrich Boell Foundation, reinforcing the importance of collaborative efforts across the board.
Contact the National Shelter GBV Helpline by calling 0800 001 005, or send an SMS, WhatsApp or Please Call Me to 082 057 8600 | 082 058 2215 | 072 230 7147, or send an email to infohelpline@nationalsm.org.za. *Business are encouraged to include this information on their websites, intranets and social media.
Support the NSMSA’s Back-a-Buddy campaign to ensure its GBV Shelter Helpline continues its vital role – as a lifeline for victims/survivors and in ending GBV and femicide in South Africa.
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