The fight for gender equality is far from over, with rising misogyny, sexism and gender-based violence (GBV) showing that women’s rights cannot be taken for granted, an international child protection expert has warned.
Dr Claire McLoone-Richards, an international expert in child protection and gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), recently delivered the first international guest lecture hosted by the North-West University (NWU) GBV and Victim Empowerment Centre.
A feminist scholar and social scientist at the University of Worcester, Dr McLoone-Richards holds an LLM and PhD and specialises in the study and prevention of violence and abuse. A non-practising barrister and advocate for children’s rights, she has extensive experience in child protection and multi-agency work. She previously chaired the Association for the Study and Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, now known as the Association of Child Protection Professionals, and currently chairs the Trauma and Violence Prevention Research Group of the University of Worcester.
The event brought together members of the NWU community, students, international academics and government stakeholders, including colleagues from the University of Worcester and partners from the Gauteng Department of Community Safety.
The lecture challenged the perception that feminism has become unnecessary because of the increased freedoms women enjoy economically, politically and socially, with Dr McLoone-Richards warning that women’s rights continue to face threats despite significant progress.
She highlighted the rise of misogyny and sexism and encouraged women to continue raising awareness about gender inequality and challenging attitudes that undermine women’s rights.
Dr Vedhna Dayanand-Lalla of the NWU’s GVB and Victim Empowerment Centre introduced the centre and the guest speaker, describing the lecture as an important milestone. She said the event marks an important step for the centre in creating platforms for scholarship, dialogue and partnerships aimed at contributing to safer, more just and resilient communities.
“This is the first lecture since the launch of the GBV Centre. It represents a coming together and scholarship. GBVF remains among the most prevalent issues around the world,” she said.
A key focus of the lecture was feminism, which Dr McLoone-Richards noted can sometimes be misunderstood or misinterpreted in broader society.
Drawing on feminist scholar bell hooks, she described feminism as a movement to transform society by challenging patriarchy, ending sexism and confronting systems of domination.
Dr McLoone-Richards challenged the narrative that feminism has achieved its purpose because women now enjoy greater freedoms and opportunities in education, employment, politics and the economy.
She argued that these gains do not mean that structural inequality, discrimination and violence against women have been eradicated.
The lecture also examined the concept of white feminism, raising questions about whether mainstream feminist discourse adequately reflects the diverse experiences of women.
Dr McLoone-Richards further addressed radical feminism, arguing that some radical positions had contributed to negative perceptions and stereotypes about feminism and, in some cases, damaged the broader feminist movement.
Despite these challenges, she stressed that feminism remains relevant in confronting inequality and violence against women.
A central message of the lecture was the need to view GBVF as a human rights issue rather than simply a criminal or social problem.
“We need to encourage people to look at GBV as a human rights issue. We must call out misogyny and sexism,” Dr McLoone-Richards said.
She emphasised that GBVF is linked to broader issues, including violent crime, trauma, mental health, social justice, safety, law and community well-being. Addressing these interconnected challenges, she said, requires greater awareness and collective action.
Closing the event, Andiswa Msi, chief director at the Vanderbijlpark Campus, said GBVF requires collaborative and interdisciplinary responses.
“GBVF cannot be understood in isolation. It intersects with violence, trauma, mental health, social justice and community well-being,” she said, calling for stronger partnerships, research and meaningful action.
Andiswa highlighted the value of the collaboration with the University of Worcester and the Gauteng Department of Community Safety in creating opportunities for shared learning, research and practical interventions.
