The 16 Days of Activism to End Violence Against Women were first introduced into South Africa by women’s organisations in 1993, with government taking up the Campaign in 1997. In 2015 our big question is what has changed?
One of the greatest myths of gender-based violence is that it happens between individuals. Unfortunately many, if not most, interventions aimed at the elimination of woman and child abuse are directed at either the support or the correction of the individual.
Atlantis in the Western Cape officially has a sexual offcences court and care centre for victims affected by sexual crimes. Justice and Correctional Services Minister, Michael Masutha opened the court and the Thuthuzela Care Centre in the community
Violence against women is widespread, globally studies suggest that overall Africa has some of the highest rates of physical and sexual intimate partner violence (IPV) and non-partner sexual violence in the world, with 45.6% of women experiencing one or more episodes of any of this violence in their lifetime; compared to a global average of 35%.
After the Soul City Health Institute revealed the commissioned study done with Tshwaranang Legal Advocacy Group on gender based violence, there was a common feeling that post 1994, one of their impediments to fight gender based violence, was the lack of funding and their too-friendly relationship with the government.