Question NW4696 to the Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities
13 December 2022 - NW4696
Hlengwa, Ms MD to ask the Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities
Considering the crime statistics that were released in November 2022, which indicate an alarming escalation in crime statistics across the Republic as murder cases increased by 13,6% and sexual offences by 11%, with the murder of women and children once again having increased in the second quarter (details furnished), and considering that the Republic is in the period of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children Campaign, (a) what plans and initiatives has her Office put in place to foster collaborative efforts in dealing with issues around the protection of women and children and (b) how is her Office working together with other government departments to ensure the protection of women and children?
Reply:
a) The Department facilitated the development of Comprehensive National Gender Based Violence and Femicide Preventions Strategy. The strategy identifies prevention mechanisms that will foster effective collaboration of stakeholders in order to address the issues of prevention of GBVF, including protection of women and children. The department is in the process of consulting stakeholders who are key in the fight against gender based violence in provinces and districts in order to facilitate the development of locally based GBVF Prevention plans and evidence informed interventions that will ensure inclusion and active participation of all locally based stakeholders in the fight against gender based violence and femicide, including and protection of women and children.
The Department is also in the process of reviewing the Integrated Development and District Development Plans of Municipalities and one of the key areas of focus are the safety plans that have been developed by Municipalities and the extent to which the Municipalities are planning to work with locally based stakeholders in order to enhance issues of safety. For example Ethekwini Municipality is collaborating with Safer Cities and local NGOs and CBOs to implement GBV prevention programmes that will ensure safety of women and children.
The Department is working with COGTA and GIZ to develop guidelines of elements to be included in Integrated Development plans and District Development Plans, in order to ensure the safety of women and children at Local Municipality levels.
b) The Department is fostering collaboration between various government departments through the implementation of the Comprehensive National GBVF Prevention Strategy. This strategy identifies the roles of the various government departments in the prevention of GBVF and collaboration that is expected between the departments and Civil Society Organisations in order to ensure effective prevention of GBVF, including protection of women and children.
In addition to the above, the department is facilitating the District and Local GBVF Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) to develop Multi Stakeholder GBVF Prevention Plans, which clearly indicate how the various department are going to work together amongst themselves and with various Civil Society Organisations (CSOs)to ensure effective prevention of GBVF. The implementation of these plans is monitored by all the respective departments and Civil Society Organisations who are members of the GBVF Rapid Response Teams.
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Approved by Minister
Ms M Nkoana-Mashabane, MP
Date: