NOTINMYNAME CALLS FOR URGENT ACTION AGAINST GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AND FEMICIDE
by Temba Masango
Not In My Name International joins communities across the country who have lamented the rising incidents of Gender-based-violence and femicide.
The recent surge in gender-based violence and femicide cases that have flooded social media timelines are disheartening. While this disturbing trend comes as no surprise to us, we are disheartened by the lack of progress in addressing what we have long declared as a pandemic.
In 2019, the government convened a gender-based violence summit, promising legislative action and increased support for grassroots organizations.
On May 24, 2024, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Bill into law, establishing a crucial framework for prevention, support, and accountability.
The bill aims to prevent gender-based violence and femicide, provide support to survivors, and hold perpetrators accountable. The president went to announce some R 128 million fund raised through the presidency against GBVF.
However, we are concerned that the 7th administration may allow politics to interfere with the urgent need for speedy interventions against GBV.
Furthermore, we are worried about the legitimacy measures in place to ensure the fair distribution of the R128 million GBVF Fund among grassroots organizations and activists.
Our concerns are threefold:
– That the government will not allow politics to interfere with the urgent need for speedy interventions against GBV.
– That legitimacy measures are put in place to ensure the fair distribution of the GBVF Fund among grassroots organizations and activists.
– That there is a long-term plan of action to address the inclusion of women in economic participation through job creation and other economic opportunities.
-That the work against GBVF is not understood as the work of women alone but of the general public at large.
– That the South African Police Services will invest in specialist personnel for an effective response to GBVF in our communities.
We call upon all grassroots organizations to demand speed in the implementation of all GBVF interventions across all government organs.
We urge the government to take concrete steps to address GBV, including providing adequate funding and skills development to grassroots organizations, ensuring the effective implementation of the GBV Bill, and addressing the economic empowerment of women and marginalized people.
Only through collective action and a commitment to justice can we hope to eradicate GBV and create a safer, more equitable society for all.