JOHANNESBURG - South Africa cannot afford to treat gender-based violence (GBV) as a seasonal conversation.
The Teddy Bear Foundation's Dr Shaheda Omar says the country has strong legislation and active advocacy. However, it has weak implementation and systematic inequality that continues to drive high levels of GBV.
"It is important to address the persistent challenges. These include the high rate of child abuse, femicide and sexual violence. We have found that there is weak implementation and co-ordination. The best pieces of legislation and policy unfortunate is uneven across the provinces,"
Omar notes the unfortunate reality that civil society organisation remain underfunded and fragmented, leading to the inability to match their commitments.
She maintains that the work of “committed advocates” in child protection and anti-GBV spaces continues to provide a lifeline for survivors.
She insists prevention remains the country’s weakest point.
"We are not doing enough. As an advocate for children's rights the 16 days of activism is a symbolic tool. What needs to happen is a whole society effort. It does not just rest just on government or civil society, all stakeholders and role players need to be brought int the equation. True change demands 365 days of activism by all people concerned,"
Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi raised concerns that despite expanded courts and improved conviction rates, violence against women and children remains “alarmingly high.”
Kubayi says an emerging problem is the rise in sexual offences committed by minors and an increase in cases of women raping boys.
She stresses that a lack of community awareness about what constitutes a sexual offence continues to fuel the crisis.
"So part of the problem would be one, it's community awareness in what constitutes sexual offence. And also you'd find that historically, even when these things happened in families, families would opt to have a discussion, a negotiation amongst family members and sweep this matter under the carpet,"
She believes GBV must remain in focus throughout the year, not only during the 16 Days campaign.
Outside of prevention and advocating for community participation in creating awareness Kubayi remains determined to push to make the National Register for Sex Offenders public.
She says consultations are underway to facilitate its release.
Specialised courts to handle sexual offences have been strengthened, with 79 of 92 now operational.
The NPA's Authority’s Sexual Offences Policy Directives have also been fully implemented could soon be made public.