By Darren Gilbert

The #butterflyrevolution is a campaign against rape and violence towards women. It launches today, Monday, 1 August and runs throughout women’s month.

Carlini explains; “I think the whole point of what Charlize was trying to do was exceptionally misunderstood. I understand where she was coming from, and she wasn’t wrong, but unfortunately it didn’t have the desired results. So what I’m saying is, okay Charlize, I got you. I love you. Let’s try what you did but take it further.”

To be clear, by ‘take it further’; Carlini doesn’t mean continuing on from where Theron left off. This isn’t about attempting to be controversial. Or even to cause a scene. Rather, the #butterflyrevolution is about trying a different approach.

“You don’t always need to be tough and fight to get your point across,” explains Carlini. “I also believe that not all revolutions need to go down in the history books with blood. Hence the butterfly. It’s the symbol of femininity. With the butterfly, we are honouring femininity, the survivors and all the good people who are standing up.”

She is also not pointing any fingers. After all, this isn’t about accusing anyone. Instead, it’s about a collective responsibility. “This is about taking that responsibility that we all have; taking the moaning and the groaning that we are all guilty of and saying no more finger pointing,” she explains. Instead, it’s about looking at yourself and asking what you’re going to do.

Think Michael Jackson’s Man in the Mirror: ‘If you wanna make the world a better place; take a look at yourself, and then make a change.’

In Carlini’s case, it starts with how she is going to raise her two boys into men the world needs more of. “Change starts at home, so what am I teaching them? What am I doing?”

Fortunately, she won’t be alone. To help her, she’s called on a number of well-known South Africans. 18 to be exact. This includes Springbok legend Victor Matfield, Afrikaans rocker Francois van Coke and DA leader Mmusi Maimane. There are also actresses Elana Africa-Bredenkamp, Kim Engelbrecht and Sandra Prinsloo.

“The idea is to start with well-known faces, and to eventually open the platform to everyone, so that everyone can start sharing their contribution to the #butterflyrevolution,” she says. Think of it like South Africa’s own version of the ice bucket challenge. You nominate others to show their support and speak out against women and child abuse.

Those nominated then post a video, image or even a voice note stating their support with the #butterflyrevolution hashtag. In fact, it doesn’t even have to be any of these three. It could even be a retweet or Facebook like. “We’ll take whatever we can get. Even a retweet is something because you might have that one follower who you don’t know, but they’ve been raped and your gesture has given them some comfort, even it if it’s only for a day.”

That doesn’t mean you should do the minimum, though. Every 20 seconds, a woman is raped in South Africa. Does that warrant the bare minimum? By opening up the conversation and talking about rape, survivors know they have support. “Every time I am in a conversation, someone has the need to tell me that they have been raped or sexually abused,” says Carlini. “It’s everywhere and what we are currently doing is not working.”

“I was in a meeting last week and a woman, who I admire greatly, turned to me and said she had been raped at 17.” How do you carry on after that? “I can’t stand the pain that is out there. We need to do something.”

That time to choose has come. You can either be silently brave or publically revolutionary. There is no middle ground. Now take your pick.

For more information, connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or on YouTube using the #butterflyrevolution hashtag.