"If it were between countries, we’d call it a war. If it were a disease, we’d call it an epidemic. If it were an oil spill, we’d call it a disaster. But it’s happening to women, and it’s just an everyday affair. It’s violence against women, or simply, domestic violence." This is how Michael Kaufman, an American campaigner against gender-based violence described the degree of attention towards Violence Against Women (VAW) globally. As the world observes this year’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, from 25 November to 10 December, southern African countries should take the opportunity to review and intensify the pace towards realising the goal to prevent and eradicate VAW and children in the sub-region.