Question NW3029 to the Minister in The Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities
22 September 2022 - NW3029
Hlengwa, Ms MD to ask the Minister in The Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities
Considering that one of the resolutions at the National Gender-based Violence and Femicide Summit in 2018 was to establish a national, multisectoral co-ordinating body that will oversee the co-ordination and response to gender-based violence and survivor support within six months of signing the summit declaration, after more than three years, (a) how (i) far is her Office in the process to gain approval from Cabinet for the National Council on Gender-based Violence and Femicide Bill and (ii) did her Office execute the roles and functions of the council as set out in the specified Bill whilst awaiting approval and (b) what alternatives have been put in place in the event that the Bill is not approved?
Reply:
a) (i) The Department presented the Bill to Cabinet on 21 September 2022, and the Bill was approved and referred to Parliament.
(ii) Yes, the department did execute some of the roles within the mandate of the department.
Other oversight roles require the Council itself as it is the ultimate custodian of the National Strategic Plan on GBVF and will have powers in line with the Bill.
To facilitate a coordinated multi-sectoral approach a END GBVF Collective was established. The END GBVF Collective has a platform that serves as the one stop centre for information pertaining to GBVF. The platform has room to grow and currently through the department and the DPME we are also establishing a knowledge hub that will house relevant information and best practices in line with priorities such as the GBVF social ill.
The department coordinated the development of the National Strategic Plan and the monitoring and evaluation framework for 2020-2024 and has provided oversight on the implementation of the National Strategic Plan since adoption by Cabinet in March 2020.
The department led the development of a comprehensive GBVF prevention strategy. The strategy is in place now and is being institutionalised to ensure implementation by multi-stakeholders.
b) In the event that the Council is not approved, the department will continue to strengthen the END GBVF Collective and revitalise the National Gender Machinery including the Gender, Youth and Persons with Disabilities joint forums.
The END GBVF Collective requires formalisation as it is currently a voluntary structure.
The END GBVF Collective, National Gender Machinery including the Gender, Youth and Persons with Disabilities joint forums will be used for ensuring a cohesive national response to the GBVF pandemic.
The Department will liaise with DPSA and National Treasury timeously to extend the contract period of the current serving secretariat until the Bill is finalised and accented into law and a Council is in place. This will ensure that the current state of coordination does not regress.
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Approved by Minister
Ms M Nkoana-Mashabane, MP
Date………………………..