Submission to Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services on Traditional Courts Bill

B1-2017

Sonke Gender Justice (Sonke) is a non-profit, human rights and social justice organisation that strives to achieve gender equality in South Africa by building capacity and mobilising communities. Sonke works to create the change necessary for women, men, young people and children to enjoy equitable, healthy and happy relationships that contribute to the development of just and democratic societies.

Sonke pursues this goal across Southern Africa by using a human rights framework to build the capacity of government, civil society organisations and citizens to achieve gender equality, prevent gender-based violence and reduce the spread of HIV and the impact of AIDS.

Through its policy and advocacy work for gender equality, Sonke specifically seeks to shape law and policy in accordance with the values of human dignity, equality and freedom that underlie the principles of democracy under a constitutional supremacy.

We make this submission to the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services (‘the Committee’) in the interest of public participation and in an effort to advance the constitutional imperatives of human dignity, equality and freedom for all South African citizens.