South Africa’s Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Sindisiwe Chikunga has warned that the ongoing defunding of women’s rights organisations poses a serious threat to the progress made since 1995 in combating violence against women and girls.

Speaking during a session at the Regional Dialogue on Feminist Funding for Women’s Movements in East and Southern Africa, held in Johannesburg, Chikunga emphasized that women’s rights are “under siege.”

She highlighted the need for sustained and increased investment in women’s movements to ensure continued advocacy and protection of rights.

Chikunga described the dialogue as a vital opportunity to reshape the narrative and develop transformative funding strategies for women’s groups across the region.

The dialogue, which runs from June 16–20, 2025, has been organized by UN Women and the European Commission under the Advocacy, Coalition Building and Transformative Feminist Action to End Violence against Women (ACT) program.

Among the participants is Malawi-based non-governmental organisation, Youth Net and Counselling (YONECO).