how to prevent gender based violence in south africa essay

Gender-based violence in South Africa: what’s missing and how to fix it

Professor of Political Science, Stellenbosch University

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Valencia Farmer was 14 years old when she was brutally gang raped and murdered . She was stabbed 53 times. That was in 1999 and her killer was only sentenced for the crime 17 years later.

Sihle Sikoji was 19 years old and some men didn’t like the fact that she was a lesbian. So they stabbed her to death with a spear .

Anene Booysen was gang raped and disemboweled in 2013. Less than a month later athlete Oscar Pistorius shot and killed Reeva Steenkamp through a closed toilet door.

In May 2017, Karabo Mokoena became the latest face of South Africa’s gender-based violence epidemic. She was killed and her body burned beyond recognition, allegedly by her ex-boyfriend.

People remember these gruesome cases that end up on newspapers’ front pages. These women’s stories come with a flare up of societal outrage, protest and collective introspection. Then South Africans live in hope for a while, believing that this time something might change. But nothing does in a country marked by unusually high levels of rape and femicide.

There is little fluctuation in these statistics, which are reported annually by the South African Police Services. What this means is that without political will, a change in the sensationalism and narratives around the reporting of gender based violence and men’s greater involvement as allies with women when it comes to gender based violence, nothing will change.

Bad reporting, bad use of words

One of the problems is how violence against women is reported. A 2011 study by Tshwaranang Legal Advocacy Centre found that court proceedings got a lot of media coverage if they met a simple, grisly requirement: they should be brutal and shocking.

Brutality may capture people’s attention, but a lot of discussion around gender based violence in South Africa is devoid of contextual analysis .

This comes with consequences. It normalises violence and narratives are produced in popular reporting that don’t help society identify the right interventions for dealing with violence. People come to think that the solution to gender based violence lies in greater incarceration and retributive justice, rather than interventions with society at large that produces violent men. In the absence of interventions women vent their frustrations and pain in Twitter hashtags like #menaretrash . These stigmatise all men as contributing to gender based violence.

As I perused the newspapers, online reporting and Sunday papers after Karabo Mokoena’s death, I read the word “scourge” several times. This creates the impression that violence is visited upon us like the plagues in the Bible, without us knowing who is doing it or why. It makes the perpetrators of violence invisible. It also suggests that there’s a cure, if we just wait long enough. This type of reporting encourages short term responses but not immediate committed action and interventions.

When Anene Booysen’s killer applied for bail, the then-minister of Women, Youth and People with disabilities Lulu Xingwana shouted “all rapists must rot in jail”. During Oscar Pistorius’ trial the governing party’s Women’s League echoed this sentiment.

It is clear from these remarks that the governing African National Congress (ANC) sees higher incarceration rates as the solution to rape and femicide. Its members’ oft-repeated cry of “rot in jail” also suggests that rehabilitation is not viewed as a priority.

The problem is that this response individualises the challenge of violence. It focuses on individual perpetrators without attempting to understand the very complex social conditions in South Africa that contribute to men’s violent behaviour. These conditions include colonial and apartheid histories of violence, endemic poverty, substance abuse, deeply held patriarchal attitudes about women’s place in society and the emasculation of unemployment when men measure their worth through work, or an absence of it.

These issues all beg for solutions on a collective level. Without that sort of intervention, gender based violence will continue unabated.

Lack of political will

There is also a visible absence of political will to fight these kinds of crimes. After Anene Booysen’s murder, enraged South Africans called for a National Council on Gender Based Violence to be formed. President Jacob Zuma agreed to this and asked his then-Minister of Women, Youth and People with Disabilities to spearhead the initiative .

But after the country’s 2014 election the ministry was closed down. Now women’s issues are represented by a single minister in the Presidency, and there’s no sign of the council that was promised.

Susan Shabangu, who is the minister for Women in the Presidency, has not demonstrated much will to genuinely tackle gender based violence. She recently described Karabo Mokoena as weak , saying this caused her death. Here we see the lack of political will to deal with sexual violence: the minister has not initiated any interventions or projects to deal with the country’s outrageous proportions of gender based violence.

What needs to change

South Africans are frustrated. Some express their feelings of hopelessness around violence on social media, tagging posts with #MenAreTrash. This is an example of women finding solidarity in their victimisation through telling their stories of sexual violence. These stories must be told and heard, because they show how vast the problem is and how women rarely speak out.

But this particular campaign also stigmatises all men as deviant. Many men may react by becoming defensive. Potential allies are alienated. Gender based violence will only diminish if men and women unite to fight against it. Men have an important role to play in this struggle.

Men will have to speak out to other men who are contributing to rape culture. They must start to address other men’s perceptions and stereotypes about women’s sexuality. They must call out men who believe women can be beaten to “discipline” them, or who refer to women as “sluts” when they do not like their behaviour.

Without intervention, the problem of sexual violence will not stop. Karabo Mokoena’s name will be joined by hundreds more on a never-ending list of loss and brutality.

• Oscar Pistorius
• Violence against women
• South Africa
• Media coverage
• Intimate partner violence
• Women abuse
• Reeva Steenkamp
• Gender-based violence
• Women and girls

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Take action: 10 ways you can help end violence against women

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During the annual 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence , UN Women stands united with survivors, activists, decision-makers, global citizens, and the UN system. Together, we are spotlighting the urgent need for robust funding, essential services, and financing of prevention initiatives and data collection that shape better-informed responses to gender-based violence.

Ending violence against women is everyone’s business. Here are ten ways you can make a difference, safely and impactfully.

1. Listen to and believe survivors

When a woman shares her story of violence, she takes the first step to breaking the cycle of abuse.

It is on all of us to give her the safe space she needs to speak up and be heard.

It is important to remember that when discussing cases of sexual violence, a victim’s sobriety, clothes, and sexuality are irrelevant.

The perpetrator is the sole reason for assault and must bear the responsibility alone. Call out victim-blaming and counter the idea that it is on women to avoid situations that might be seen as “dangerous” by traditional standards.

Survivors of violence are speaking out more than ever before, and everyone has a role to play to ensure they can have justice.

Do not say, “Why didn’t she leave?”

Do say: “We hear you. We believe you. We stand with you.”

2. Teach the next generation and learn from them

The examples we set for the younger generation shape the way they think about gender, respect, and human rights. Start conversations about gender roles early on, and challenge the traditional features and characteristics assigned to men and women. Point out the stereotypes that children constantly encounter, whether in the media, on the street, or at school, and let them know that it is OK to be different. Encourage a culture of acceptance.

Talk about consent, bodily autonomy, and accountability in an age-appropriate way to boys and girls. For example, discuss the importance of a clear “yes” from all involved, the fact your body is yours and you make choices over what happens to it, and of how we must always take responsibility for our actions. It is important to also listen to what children have to say about their experience of the world. By empowering young advocates with information and educating them about women’s rights, we can build a better future for all.

3. Call for responses and services fit for purpose

Services for survivors are essential services.

This means that shelters, helplines, counseling, and all support for survivors of gender-based violence need to be available for those in need.

Every year, the 16 Days of Activism campaign calls for united, global action to end all forms of violence against women and girls.

This year the United Nations, together with our partners, are demanding increased investments to end violence against women and girls.

Join us in calling on governments to bridge funding gaps to address violence against women and girls , invest in prevention initiatives, ensure essential services for survivors of violence are maintained, implement prevention measures, and invest in collecting the data necessary to adapt and improve life-saving services for women and girls.

4. Understand consent

Freely given clear consent is mandatory, every time.

Rather than listening for a “no”, make sure there is a clear “yes”, from all involved. Adopt clear consent in your life and talk about it.

Phrases like “she was asking for it” or “boys will be boys” attempt to blur the lines around sexual consent, placing blame on victims, and excusing perpetrators from the crimes they have committed.

While those that use these lines may have fuzzy understandings of consent, the definition is crystal clear. When it comes to consent, there are no blurred lines.

Learn more about consent .

5. Learn the signs of abuse and how you can help

There are many forms of abuse and all of them can have serious physical and emotional effects. If you’re concerned about a friend who may be experiencing violence or feels unsafe around someone, review these signs and learn about the ways to help them find safety and support.

If you think someone is abusing you, help is available . You are not alone. If you’d like to talk with a trained advocate at a helpline, we compiled this list of resources around the world .

6. Start a conversation

Violence against women and girls is a human rights violation that’s been perpetuated for decades. 

It is pervasive, but it is not inevitable, unless we stay silent. 

Show your solidarity with survivors and where you stand in the fight for women’s rights by oranging your social media profile for the 16 Days of Activism – you can download banners for Facebook and Twitter here . 

On Instagram, you can use UN Women’s face filter to spread the word and encourage your community to do the same. 

Use #orangetheworld, #16Days, and #GenerationEquality to start your own conversation about gender-based violence, or share some of the content from our social media package .

7. Stand against rape culture

Rape culture is the social environment that allows sexual violence to be normalized and justified, fueled by the persistent gender inequalities and attitudes about gender and sexuality. Naming it is the first step to dismantling rape culture.

Every day we have the opportunity to examine our behaviours and beliefs for biases that permit rape culture to continue. Think about how you define masculinity and femininity, and how your own biases and stereotypes influence you.

From the attitudes we have about gender identities to the policies we support in our communities, we can all take action to stand against rape culture.

Learn more ways to stand against rape culture .

8. Fund women’s organizations

Donate to local organizations that empower women, amplify their voices, support survivors, and promote acceptance of all gender identities and sexualities. 

UN Women works with women’s organizations everywhere to end violence against women, assist survivors, and secure equal rights for women and girls everywhere. Donate now . 

Find out more about how women ’ s organizations prevent violence against women and girls.

9. Hold each other accountable

Violence can take many forms, including sexual harassment in the workplace and in public spaces.

Take a stand by calling it out when you see it: catcalling, inappropriate sexual comments, and sexist jokes are never okay.

Create a safer environment for everyone by challenging your peers to reflect on their own behaviour and speaking up when someone crosses the line, or by enlisting the help of others if you don’t feel safe.

As always, listen to survivors and make sure they have the support they need.

10. Know the data and demand more of it

To effectively combat gender-based violence, we need to understand the issue.  

Relevant data collection is key to implementing successful prevention measures and providing survivors with the right support. 

Gaps in gender sensitive data collection have become more glaring than ever. Call on your government to invest in the collection of data on gender-based violence.

Find out at how UN Women works to bring about a radical shift in how gender statistics are used, created and promoted .

Originally published on Medium.com/@UN_Women .

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Gender-based Violence in South Africa Essay Example

Gender-based violence (GBV) is a deeply concerning issue that continues to affect societies across the globe, and South Africa is no exception. As a Grade 9 learner, tackling an essay on such a profound topic can feel daunting, but it’s a valuable opportunity to explore and engage with important social issues that shape the world around us.

To begin your exploration of this topic, it’s vital to understand what GBV entails – these are actions that cause physical, mental, or sexual harm based on one’s gender. In South Africa, such acts unfortunately happen frequently and can range from intimate partner violence to harmful cultural practices.

Approaching an essay on GBV in South Africa, it’s beneficial to structure your writing into a few key sections. Start with an introduction that defines GBV and gives an overview of its prevalence in South Africa. This will set the stage for a deeper analysis in the following sections.

The main body of your essay should delve into the specifics of GBV in South Africa. Discuss its nature, prevalence, consequences, and possible solutions. Use reliable sources to support your points and don’t shy away from presenting both the harsh realities and the hopeful initiatives aimed at addressing this issue.

Finally, conclude your essay by summarizing your main points and reflecting on the importance of addressing GBV for the future of South Africa.

Remember, an essay isn’t just about presenting facts – it’s about demonstrating your understanding and perspectives on a topic. So, express your thoughts, share your ideas, and let your voice be heard. Good luck with your essay-writing journey!

Title: An Insight into Gender-Based Violence in South Africa

Introduction

Gender-based violence (GBV) remains a pervasive issue in South Africa, deeply rooted in societal norms and perpetuated through silence, stigma, and systemic failures. It’s a grave violation of human rights that impedes social progress and threatens the fabric of the society. This essay will delve into the nature, prevalence, and consequences of GBV in South Africa, as well as consider potential solutions.

Understanding the Nature of Gender-Based Violence

GBV encompasses acts that inflict physical, sexual, or mental harm or suffering based on gender differences. In South Africa, this violence is alarmingly widespread and often brutal, affecting individuals across all social strata. These acts range from intimate partner violence, sexual violence, human trafficking, to harmful cultural practices. Gender-based power imbalances, patriarchal societal norms, and economic inequalities are fundamental contributors to GBV.

Prevalence of GBV in South Africa

According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), GBV cases have reached alarmingly high levels, with thousands of murders and sexual offenses reported annually. The actual prevalence is likely much higher, considering many victims don’t report due to fear of reprisal, stigma, or lack of faith in the justice system. The COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns have further exacerbated the situation, with a marked increase in cases, painting a grim picture of the state of GBV in South Africa.

The Consequences of GBV

The effects of GBV are profound, extending beyond the immediate physical harm. Survivors often grapple with psychological trauma, social stigmatization, and economic instability. GBV also contributes to public health crises, such as the spread of HIV/AIDS. Additionally, it inhibits societal growth and development by keeping a significant proportion of the population – women and girls – in fear, suppressing their potential contribution to social and economic progress.

Potential Solutions to GBV in South Africa

Addressing GBV requires a multi-faceted approach, starting with strengthening legal frameworks and improving their implementation to ensure justice for victims. This could involve enhancing police training, streamlining judicial processes, and strengthening victim support systems. Moreover, it’s essential to tackle the societal norms that perpetuate GBV through education, community dialogues, and public awareness campaigns. Economic empowerment initiatives for women can also help break the cycle of violence by providing financial independence and security.

In summary, gender-based violence is a critical challenge facing South Africa, deeply embedded within societal norms and structures. It demands urgent action from all sectors – government, civil society, and individuals alike – to ensure a safe, equitable society. Through a combination of strong legislative action, social awareness, and economic empowerment, South Africa can start to dismantle the structures that enable GBV, ensuring a safer future for all its inhabitants.

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• 10 Causes of Gender-Based Violence in South Africa with Examples
• A Critical Discussion on Gender-Based Violence as a Human Rights Violation in South Africa: Acts and Examples
• The Devastating Effects of Gender-Based Violence in South Africa: Real-Life Examples and the Way Forward

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Stop Gender Violence: A National Campaign

Policy development & advocacy, gender-based violence in south africa.

The high rates of gender-based violence (GBV) in South Africa, further highlighted by a number of high-profile cases over the last few years, has given rise to significant public support to end GBV. Government has made some efforts towards ending GBV, but these have been marred by inefficient coordination and almost no budget provisions made towards prevention and services.

One such effort towards effective coordination was the National Council on Gender-Based Violence (NCGBV), a council created for the purpose of drafting, costing, and implementing a national strategic plan (NSP) to combat GBV. Since its formation in 2012, it has been destabilised by political changes and lack of funding to execute its mandate. There has been no official word on its status since 2014 when former Minister of Women, Susan Shabangu, was appointed and the Ministry failed to reconstitute it and provide an update on its status.

In response, civil society organisations across the country came together in 2014 to form the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence (NSP GBV) campaign, demanding a fully-costed, evidence-based, multi-sectoral, inclusive and comprehensive NSP to end GBV. The campaign’s mandate and objectives have since broadened to holistically address and respond to GBV more broadly. As such, the campaign was renamed in May 2016 to Stop Gender Violence: A National Campaign.

The campaign has carried out the following activities since its inception:

• Research and policy work on civil society’s NSPGBV shadow framework – a framework to inform the aim of a government-led NSPGBV.
• Provincial engagements with grassroot organisations and beneficiaries to to ensure that grassroots voices are able to shape the NSPGBV agenda.
• Capacity-building and administrative support to civil society groups in advancing efforts of the campaign.
• The production of technical materials and briefs to strengthen the content of the NSPGBV.
• A petition in 2014, signed by South Africans demanding an NSP on GBV. Find the link here .
• A postcard campaign in 2014 with individualised personal stories of women affected by GBV, which are posted to the Minister of Women, urging action. You can see these here .
• Marches across the country in 2014 demanding an NSP on GBV and calling for an end to lip service, unfunded mandates, and no more empty promises.

The campaign launched its NSPGBV shadow framework in October 2017 and is currently in the process of engaging government to ensure the uptake of the NSPGBV. Diagnostic review of government strategies to address violence against women and children

In 2014 KPMG was commissioned to conduct a diagnostic review of government strategies to address violence against women and children (VAWC) and what could be done to strengthen them. It reviews both the institutional and programmatic mechanisms by which the state addresses violence against women (VAW) and violence against children (VAC). It considers the ‘whole of government’ response, covering overarching challenges faced by 11 key departments with roles to address VAWC. It considers the state response across the three spheres of government: national, provincial and local.

The report was embargoed for many months but is now finally available online at evaluations.dpme.gov.za . We place them here for ease of access and to make sure they remain easily available for civil society activists and researchers:

• Report on the assessment of government evaluations
• Report on diagnostic review of the state response to violence against women and children
• Report on diagnostic review of the state response to violence against women and children – summary version
• Diagnostic review of the country’s response to violence against women and children
• Diagnostic evaluation/programme audit for violence against women and children
• Signed table of recommendations

See our short video on why we need an NSP on GBV here .

Like our Facebook page ( NSP GBV Campaign ) and follow us on Twitter ( @NSPGBV ).

To join the campaign, email the membership form (found here ) to [email protected] .

“No more empty promises! No more unfunded mandates! No more lip-service!”

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Please note that Sonke does not offer counselling or other support services to individuals. Click here for information on where to get help.

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What works to prevent gender-based violence in South Africa?

• 11 Dec 2015
• Topics: Domestic violence / Intimate partner violence , Gender-based violence , Sexual violence

What works to prevent gender-based violence in South Africa? – Blog

In South Africa, there are many organisations working effectively towards preventing gender-based violence. (Photo by Dean Hutton)

Every year the 10th of December marks both International Human Rights Day and the end of the international campaign of 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children . Running for just over two weeks, the annual #16DaysCampaign provides an umbrella for civil societies and governments across the world to raise awareness of how violence against women and children (VAWC) can and must be prevented.

  “More than 35% of women worldwide have experienced either physical or sexual partner violence or non-partner sexual violence." WHO (2013) Global and regional estimates of violence against women

While the campaign itself is effective for both advocacy and awareness raising purposes, there is a general consensus that in order to address and prevent VAWC it needs a concerted effort that goes way beyond the sixteen days.

Recognizing this need, in South Africa, government and civil society have committed to take forward the awareness and vision of the 16 Days Campaign and expand it to a year-round #365Days of Activism Campaign.

Gender-based violence wide-spread in South Africa

In South Africa, gender-based violence – which encompasses any kind of violence (physical, sexual, emotional and psychological) against women and children – is widely spread and an issue of serious concern. Up to 40% South African women have experienced sexual and/or physical interpersonal violence in their lifetime.

According to a 2012 research study , 77% percent of women in Limpopo, 51% of women in Gauteng, 45% of women in the Western Cape and 36% of women in KwaZulu-Natal have experienced some form of violence in their lifetime, both within and outside intimate relationships. At the same time, 76% of men in Gauteng and 41% of men in KwaZulu-Natal admit to having committed violence against women.

Gender-based violence in South Africa has various drivers, including, for example, rigid notions of masculinity that condone violent behaviour towards women and children, the socio-economic situation of many women that makes them dependent on their male partners or a patriarchal, conservative understanding of gender roles.

What can be done to prevent GBV?

At a recent seminar in November at the MRC's head office in Pretoria, practitioners and researchers presented some of the programmes that are part of the What Works research programme.

Skhokho Supporting Success

The programme consists of different components that engage

• high school learners in classroom sessions and after-school workshops;
• high school teachers and staff through skills building workshops; and
• caregivers (e.g. parents) of young teenagers through weekend workshops.

The programme's aim is to strengthen the various participants' relationship skills through gender transformative interventions, e.g. positive discipline strategies, supportive styles of interaction and non-violent ways of conflict resolution. The programme further aims to improve stress management, mental health as well as value-based decision-making. The classroom sessions are offered as part of Grade 8 life orientation classes, while the other workshops have external facilitators.

Evaluations of the programme show a positive impact on mothers who report being less stressed and teenagers state better cooperation with their parents. Furthermore girls who participated in the programme reported a reduction in instances of intimate partner violence.

Stepping Stones/Creating Futures

The intervention is conducted by peer facilitators who organise training sessions in single-sex groups, targeting 18-24 year old men and women. In these sessions participants develop livelihoods strategies and are involved in discussions, role plays, dramas and games that encourage participants to reflect on social norms around gender and the use of violence. Discussions around the different types of violence affecting the participants personally and their communities at large assist participants to reflect on the impact social norms have on gender-based violence.

Evaluations of the programme show a significant reduction in women's experience of intimate partner violence as well as an improvement in gender attitudes of both male and female participants.

Sonke CHANGE Trial

The Sonke CHANGE Trial is based on Sonke's existing multi-level intervention "One Man Can" which engages men in confronting harmful aspects of masculinity and helps men become partners in addressing violence and HIV – with the ultimate goal of achieving gender equality.

The project aims to address risk factors for violence against women and girls at individual, relationship, community and societal level. It recognises that masculinities may influence men's likelihood of resorting to violence through various pathways such as alcohol use, partner communication or mental health. Thus the project strives to reduce men's adherence to such masculinity norms.

The project will run until March 2018 and will be rigorously evaluated throughout its duration. Findings will be shared via both community and stakeholder meetings as well as through publications.

Find out more

First results from the What Works research can be expected throughout the coming months. For more information, visit:

• What Works website
• ISS South African Crime Quarterly No. 51 (Special edition: primary prevention of violence)
• " Three reasons to smile if you live in South Africa today " – Article by Chandre Gould, Senior research at the Institute for Security Studies
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Six ways to end gender-based violence

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• 4 years ago

Intersectional Women’s March against GBV Pretoria 2018

What is gender-based violence?

There are different definitions of gender-based violence (GBV). GBV can broadly be defined as ‘…the general term used to capture violence that occurs as a result of the normative role expectations associated with each gender, along with the unequal power relationships between genders, within the context of a specific society.’ The expectations associated with each gender vary from society to society, but patriarchy is a common factor. Male leadership is seen as the norm and men hold most of the power. Patriarchy is a social and political system that treats men as superior to women. In a patriarchal society, women can’t fully protect their bodies from violence, meet their basic needs and participate in society. The root cause of gender-based violence globally is inequitable gender norms.

What are the forms of gender-based violence?

There are  many forms of GBV . GBV can be physical, sexual, emotional, financial or structural. Violence can be perpetrated by intimate partners, acquaintances, strangers and institutions. The forms of GBV include violence against women and girls, violence against LGBTI people, intimate partner violence, domestic violence, sexual violence   and indirect (structural) violence.

Structural violence is described as violence that is built into structures, resulting in unequal power relations and unequal opportunities affecting certain groups, classes, genders or nationalities of people. Political and social norms change can address structural violence.

Intimate partner violence is the most common form of GBV. It includes physical, sexual, and emotional abuse and controlling behaviours by a current or former intimate partner or spouse. Intimate partner violence can happen in heterosexual or same-sex couples.

We know that GBV levels are high but we don’t always have accurate statistics due to many factors, for example, under-reporting of incidents. GBV is very high in South Africa compared to other countries. On average, one in five South African women older than 18 has experienced physical violence. Thousands of women and children are psychologically harmed by GBV and suffer long-term trauma and harm to their lives. The main drivers as shown by the available statistics are intimate partner violence and non-partner sexual violence. Gender-based violence permeates all structures of society – political, economic and social -and is driven by entrenched patriarchy and complex and intersectional power inequalities found in race, gender, class and sexuality.

How can we end gender-based violence?

We’ve made some progress in addressing GBV. We are better at defining and understanding it. We are better at collecting data and evidence to identify and support effective interventions. We’ve seen relatively improved awareness and access to services. Despite the gains, gender-based violence is still a challenge. So, how can we effectively address the fundamental inequalities to end GBV? A good starting point is to recognise that women’s rights are human rights. South Africa has a strong legislative framework and is a signatory to several international treaties on GBV. Examples include the Domestic Violence Act (DVA), the Sexual Offences Act, and the Prevention and Combatting of Trafficking in Human Persons (2013) Act”. We urge South Africa’s government to ratify the ILO Convention 190, which addresses violence, discrimination and harassment in the world of work.

Six actions we can take to end GBV

• How to deal with the pain of others – Tips for educators, facilitators and researchers
• Bargaining for gender equity

The LRS response to GBV in the workplace and communities

• Ending gender-based violence in the health sector
• Working with teacher unions to end school-related gender-based violence
• Working together with communities to end school-related gender-based violence
• Creating safe and inclusive workplaces free of homophobia

Watch:  Education unions take action to end school-related gender-based violence in Africa.

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March against gender-based violence planned for today

Men in law enforcement and support staff will have a gender-based awareness march on friday. here are the affected streets..

The Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) said men in law enforcement and support staff would have a gender-based awareness march on Friday. 

According to TMPD spokesperson Isaac Mahamba, the men in uniform and support staff will march from the Tshwane Metro Police Headquarters to the Tshwane House and then proceed to the Union Buildings. Their mission is to hand over a memorandum, a symbol of their unwavering commitment to tackle gender-based violence (GBV). 

The march  is expected  to  start at 08:30 on the corner of WF Nkomo and Eskia Mphahlele Drive on Friday. 

“The march will consist of support staff ,  men in uniform drawn from different law enforcement agencies such as the TMPD, Gauteng Traffic, South African Police Service, Emergency Services and many more.”  

The rate of violence against women and girls in South Africa is among the highest in the world. 

According to official statistics, one in five women in relationships have experienced physical violence by a partner. Many more have suffered other forms of violence  by men  they know and strangers.

A report by UN Women states that in some cases, victims are reluctant to report abuse because they feel that police officers are inadequately trained to deal with gender-based violence and may be dismissive or insensitive to their concerns.

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