16 Days of Activism: did you know?

Since 1994, Government has developed legislation to redress the wrongs affecting women and children.

• Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act, 2000 was passed to ensure that everyone enjoy Constitutional rights. This Act ensures that women have equal enjoyment of rights and freedoms, in addressing the wrongs of the past.
• Employment Equity Act, 1998 ensures that discrimination in employment, occupation and income within the labour market that resulted from apartheid laws are curtailed. It encourages equitable representation of women and other historically disadvantages persons at all levels of public and private entities.
• Maintenance Act, 1998 guarantees the rights of a child to a living standard which is adequate for physical, mental, spiritual and social development. The Act ensures that maintenance for the child is recovered from the parents or other persons financially responsible for the child.
• Domestic Violence Act, 1998 was enacted to afford survivors of violence maximum protection from domestic abuse. Women, who are at the receiving end of domestic violence, now have a legal recourse that will ensure their protection.
• Children’s Act, 2005 and Children’s Amendment Act, 2007 was enacted to amongst others, protect a child from maltreatment, neglect, abuse or degradation.

Government has implemented and supported many interventions that protect the human dignity of women and children.

• The Children's Rights Charter is being reviewed and updated to also include emerging challenges such as use of children as subject of pornography and children’s exposure to pornographic material.
• Government has responded to the challenge of forced marriage of children to adults under a pretext of a traditional practice called “Ukuthwala”. Government is committed to ensure that traditional and other practices are in line with the Constitution and relevant legislation.
• The process is underway to re-establish specialised police units dealing with domestic and sexual offences and other crimes against women and children. The establishment of specialised units will mobilise the expertise needed to enhance management and successful prosecution of crimes against women and children.  
• There are currently 17 Thuthuzela Care Centres [PDF] established across the country in communities with high incidents of sexual violence. The Centres provide health and welfare services as well as initiate processes for effective reporting and prosecution of offences in a dignified and caring environment by qualified professionals.
• Criminal Asset Recovery Funds was used to fund 19 victim empowerment projects.
• The Directory on Services for Victims of Violence and Crime which contains services provided by over 1 500 government and civil society organisations in all provinces was developed. The directory empowers people to access services that are available in their area. 
• Victim friendly facilities have been established in high contact crime police stations
• Dedicated Sexual Offences Courts were developed.
• The Domestic Violence Act provided for shelters to be established. There are currently 96 shelters in South Africa, from 39 in 2001.

The rights of the Victims Charter are being translated into reality for victims of crime that engage with the Criminal Justice System

• This Charter includes the Minimum Standards on Services for Victims of Crime, which sets out a legal framework for victims to assert their rights on expected services from the Criminal Justice System. 
• With implementation of the Victim’s Charter, the number of days it took to complete a case in Sexual Offences Court declined from 285 to 142.
• The Charter is also a requirement for the Government of South Africa to meet its international obligation in terms of the United Nations (UN) Declaration of the Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power.

International cooperation in addressing challenges of violence against women and children.

• South Africa submitted its report on progress made on the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination and discrimination against women to the UN CEDAW committee.
• South Africa hosted a Southern African Development Community (SADC) Ministerial Meeting (October 09) to finalise the 10 year regional strategic plan of action on trafficking in persons, especially women and children.
• The SADC Protocol on Gender and Development states that SADC Member States shall by 2015 have enacted legislation that fight sexual harassment.
• South Africa hosted the Gender Justice Regional Summit (9–10 November 2009), bringing together representatives from Africa countries to share experiences and best practices in eliminating sexual and gender based violence.