Question NW2703 to the Minister of Women in the Presidency
18 September 2018 - NW2703
Khawula, Mr M to ask the Minister of Women in the Presidency
What (a) programmes to assist female victims of violence and abuse do her department and the entities reporting to her currently have in place and (b) is the purpose of each programme?
Reply:
The Department since 2016 has been rolling out National Dialogues on violence against women and children (VAWC) to better understand the lived experiences of various communities given the uniqueness of their context. So far, dialogues have been held in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, North West and Western Cape as part of the 365 Days of Activism programme. This is a programmatic approach to raising awareness on violence against women.
The Department of Women (DoW) has made concerted efforts to engage various stakeholders particularly men’s organisations to partner with the Department as advocates for no VAWC. During the month of August, the Department also hosted a series of dialogues with women across all sectors. These included women in business, women living in rural areas, women in academia and a dialogue with men and boys. On the 9th of August, the department launched the Gender Based violence Robot to heighten awareness on early warning signs of domestic violence. The Robot has contact details of services available for victims of violence.
The dialogues are implemented in partnership with Premiers offices and local civil society organisations (CSOs) to ensure continuity and sustainability of community based interventions developed dialogue events by the Province, municipalities and implementing partners.
DoW is also a member of the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on the Root Causes of Violence against Women and Children which was established by the Cabinet in May 2012 to develop a comprehensive strategy to deal with this scourge. A Program of Action (POA) emanating from the work of this Committee, has been developed and is currently under review to close gaps identified though a diagnostic review process.
The Minister is in the process of reinstating the Gender Based Violence Council which will include government, NGOs, NPOs, and business so that we can have co-ordinated programs as per the CEDAW, AU and SADC protocol.
We are also trying to develop new indicators for reporting on crimes against women because presently crimes that are reported are those that are in the police systems.
A well-coordinated and reconfigured gender mainstreaming will help us to respond to all forms of violence and discrimination against women.
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Ms BO Dlamini, MP
Minister in the Presidency Responsible for Women
Date: