Emergency plan announced to stop violence against women

The department of social development has released details of its emergency plan to address gender-based violence (GBV) in South Africa. In a presentation on Wednesday to the parliamentary committee overseeing the government response to gender-based violence and femicide, the department listed a number of programmes that will be rolled out in coming weeks. These include:

three campaigns at higher education institutions during the 16 Days of Activism;
workshops with traditional leaders on the identification, reporting and referral of violence, child abuse, neglect and exploitation. Training 200 social workers across all nine provinces in trauma management; and hiring more social workers to provide psycho-social support at a range of facilities. The department’s presentation also revealed that increased funding will be allocated to NGOs that provide support and services to survivors and children.

gender-based violence

Widespread concern about the government’s inaction in the face of gender-based violence – brought to a head by the murder of UCT student Uyinene Mrwetyana in August – prompted President Cyril Ramaphosa to announce on September 18 that a national strategic plan would be drawn up.

The emergency plan is an interim step. It aims to:

improve access to justice for survivors of GBV;
introduce programmes to change norms and behaviours;
provide a more urgent response for victims and survivors of GBV;
increase accountability for perpetrators; and
find ways to improve economic opportunities for women in order to reduce their economic vulnerability.

Among other interventions are the establishment of shelters that are inclusive for the LGBTIQ+ community and for people with disabilities; the creation of a therapeutic training programme for support for children and families affected by sexual abuse; and the creation of victim support service legislation that will be submitted to cabinet by March.
There has been a systemic problem with how the state works and how citizens and the nation at large interface with the system,” said Brenda Madumise-Pajibo, co-chair of the interim steering committee on gender-based violence and femicide.

“One of the things that can make the system work is to start holding people accountable.” A press statement released by the committee last week noted that a second draft of the bigger National Strategic Plan would be submitted to Cabinet next month.