Women's Progressive Project

About PWMSA

The Progressive Women's Movement of South Africa (PWMSA) is a registered Not-for-Profit Organisation launched on August 8, 2006 in Bloemfontein — a date chosen to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1956 March of 20,000 South African women to the Union Buildings to protest the pass laws. The movement was founded to provide a unified platform for women from diverse sectors: civil society, labour, faith-based organisations, political parties, business, arts and culture, and professional bodies.

PWMSA's membership comprises more than 35 national multi-sectoral organisations and institutions, making it one of South Africa's largest umbrella bodies for women's rights and advocacy.

Objectives

PWMSA exists to: - Unite the women of South Africa across race, class, culture, and geography - Strengthen the relationship between government and women's organisations - Provide a forum for women committed to the women's rights agenda - Fight against discrimination of women in all spheres of life

Programme Areas

PWMSA's work is organised into five programme areas: Gender-Based Violence; Peace and Security; Building Women-Inclusive Economies; Economic Inclusion and Empowerment; and Education and Skills Revolution.

Gender-Based Violence is one of PWMSA's core programme areas. As a national movement, PWMSA initiates and supports community-led GBV reduction initiatives across their member organisations and provinces. This includes advocacy at government level, public awareness campaigns, and coordinating joint responses during the annual 16 Days of Activism against gender violence.

Scope Note for GBV Directory

PWMSA is a movement and advocacy body, not a direct service provider. They do not provide counselling, shelter, or crisis support directly to survivors. Their inclusion in the directory is appropriate as a referral pathway for policy engagement, rights advocacy, and community mobilisation — or if the directory intends to capture umbrella bodies and coalitions alongside direct service providers.