At the closing of the G20 Social Summit in Johannesburg last month, President Cyril Ramaphosa declared Gender-Based Violence and Femicide a National Disaster under the Disaster Management Act, 2002, signaling a coordinated national response to the scourge.
The decision governement says, is after evaluations of life-safety risks posed by ongoing acts of violence, as well as reassessment of previous reports and updated submissions from various organs of state and civil society organisations.
Sonke’s Co-Executive Director Bafana Khumalo says much of this pronouncement depends on the specific details “As civil society we are cautiously optimistic about this classification and will be engaging with government to examine what this declaration truly means and whether it reflects what we have been calling for, particularly in relation to what will be gazetted in the regulations’’.
The classification calls on all organs of state to strengthen support for existing GBVF response structures, put contingency plans into action, and ensure that all necessary mechanisms are in place so the National Executive can respond to this disaster effectively.
As the globe marks the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, Sonke calls for comprehensive legal provisions that ensure perpetrators of gender-based violence are held accountable, while also ensuring that survivors receive the necessary support. We also call for continued vigilance in enhahncing preventive measures in the quest to turn the tide against GBVF.
ENDS/
For media enquiries contact:
Kgomotso Mophulane, Communications & Strategic Information Manager, Sonke Gender Justice on kgomotso@genderjustice.org.za or 0835196187.
Bafana Khumalo, Co-Executive Director, Sonke Gender Justice on bafana@genderjustice.org.za or 082 5784479.
NOTE TO EDITORS
Sonke is a South African-based non-profit organisation working throughout Africa. We believe women and men, girls and boys can work together to resist patriarchy, advocate for gender justice, and achieve gender transformation. For media releases, reports and news visit https://genderjustice.org.za/ and https://genderjustice.org.za/newsletter-signup/
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