Take back the night (also known as Reclaim the Night) is an international march that began in 1976 in Belguim at the International Tribunal on Crimes Against Women. They marched in solidarity, holding candles to protest the ways in which violence permeates the lives of women worldwide. The campaign became known as Take back the Night from the title of a memorial read at an anti-violence rally in in 1977.

Although the march began as a protest against the fear that women experienced while walking in public at night, it has now become a mechanism for communities to publicly speak out against gender violence. The word night was originally meant to be taken literally to express the fear that many women feel during the night, but has since changed to symbolize a fear of violence in general. This enables the campaign to incorporate domestic violence and sexual abuse.

The Johannesburg march is organised by Gender Links and Gender and Media Southern Africa (GEMSA) and takes place in a different location each year. Speakers at this year's march through Hillbrow included survivors of gender violence, local government Councillor Walters, and a representative from the Men's Forum.

• Reclaim the right of women to be safe in all places at all times of the day and night.
• Foster collaboration with local government and other stakeholders to take back dangerous streets in cities and towns across Southern Africa.
• Speak out against all forms of violence within and outside the home.
• Raise community awareness on gender violence.
• Develop innovative preventative strategies for addressing the high levels of gender violence in communities.