Gender Equality in South Africa has many varied dimensions. On the one hand there is 44% representation of women in parliament, and on the other hand there are persistent high rates of gender-based violence. The continued high rates of rape and domestic violence remind us that women are not safe in their own homes, in communities, parks, fields, beaches, public toilets, etc. How do these contradictions impede the attainment of gender equality in the country and within local communities? During 2011, the representation of women in local government elections has dropped from 40% female councilors to 38%. What does it mean for addressing women’s concerns in communities and specifically how are ward councilors responding to the challenge of violence against women?
The 16 Days of Activism is an International Campaign to End Gender-Based Violence (started in Latin America in 1982 ), that highlights the endemic problem but also to act as a catalyst for action to end all forms of violence against women. The South African programme to end violence against women has in recent years been particularly emphasized during the 16 Days of Activism to End Gender Based Violence. This year, as a part of this campaign, Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Tswaranang Legal Advocacy Centre in partnership with FreeGender hosted a panel discussion on the 29 November 2011 that engaged local government councilors on issues of gender-based violence in Khayelitsha, Cape Town. Some of the questions for the panel discussion included:
- What programmes do ward councillors have in place to address the problem of violence against women?
- What role can local councillors play in ensuring that laws such as the 1998 Domestic Violence Act and the 2007 Sexual Offences Amendment Act are effectively implemented at local level?
- How do councillors engage with the SAPS and community policing forums (CPFs) around the implementation of these laws?