Answer:
During the 1950s to 1960s, South African women played a significant role in the fight against human rights violations and the apartheid regime. They organized and led numerous protests, boycotts, and marches against discriminatory laws and practices.
One of the most notable examples was the Women's March on August 9, 1956, where around 20,000 women marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest against the proposed extension of pass laws to women. This march was a pivotal moment in South African history and demonstrated the power of women in the struggle against apartheid.
Women also played key roles in underground resistance movements, including the African National Congress (ANC) and the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), by distributing leaflets, gathering information, and providing safe houses for activists.
Women were also subjected to various human rights violations during this time, including forced removals from their homes, detention without trial, and police brutality. Women such as Winnie Mandela, Lilian Ngoyi, and Helen Joseph were prominent figures in the struggle against these injustices and played important roles in raising awareness and mobilizing support both domestically and internationally.
Overall, South African women played a critical role in the fight against human rights violations in the 1950s and 1960s, and their contributions continue to be celebrated and remembered today.