Activists call for greater focus on gender-based violence and femicide

Activists and civil society groups are calling on the government to halt the implementation of the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) Laws and focus on amending it to align with the 2018 declaration and the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide.

The GBVF Acts refer to three separate Acts: the Criminal and Related Matters Amendment Act, the Criminal Law (Sexual Offenses and Related Matters) Amendment Act and the Domestic Violence Amendment Act.

Activists argue that the Acts are a step in the right direction in terms of the country’s response to GBVF, but that the Acts in their current form are inadequate and fail to address the fundamental challenges they seek to address.

Gender-based violence cannot be addressed in the current state of the framework

Sibongile Ndashe, executive director of the Strategic Litigation Initiative in Africa (Isla), said the current framework lacks accountability and has become a hollow structure with no real functionality.

“Existing Laws lack provisions to ensure accountability across sectors and ensure necessary, ongoing financing. We have spoken to others but there is a lack of understanding as to why the system is not working.

“We believe this change is critical. It’s not just about structure; “It’s about ensuring the people involved can act and respond effectively,” he said. Saturday Citizen.

The organizations expressed concern about inconsistencies between the Acts, the National Strategic Plan on GBVF and the commitments made in the 2018 summit statement.

“There are concerns that the establishment of the council and the removal of key oversight mechanisms could render it ineffective and undermine the progress made by the GBVF movement,” Ndashe said.

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Neglect of structures and neutrality, among other concerns

Other issues raised include the neglect of provincial and local structures, concerns about impartiality and representation, and the lack of a solid system to ensure effective oversight and cooperation.

As the country celebrates the annual 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, the organizations have proposed a series of initiatives to bring together experts and stakeholders on the effective implementation of the GBVF National Strategic Plan, including its funding model and guidelines. issues of accountability, council oversight, and proposed funding.

Kayan Leung, a public interest lawyer at Lawyers for Human Rights, said: “The national strategic plan proposed that the council should have political primacy at the highest level of the president, with the president playing a central role as the defender of national law. The council should increase its authority and ensure effective oversight and enforcement.” “He needs to make sure it happens.”

“Without these, progress will always be limited.”

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