Gender based violence (GBV) is a significant societal problem underpinned by a vast number of interlinking factors that requires collaborative, inter-sectoral and multi-dimensional approaches to understanding and addressing its existence.
The civil society movement in South Africa has been a crucial driving force that has continuously steered human rights advocacy to the forefront of social and political agendas.
Despite its substantial efforts women’s needs remain secondary priorities and addressing GBV is virtually non-existent in election and political party manifestos.
As part of a project called ‘Enhancing the States Response to Gender Based Violence’ (a project that aims to foster a culture of accountability, political leadership and women’s access and voice on the need to address gender based violence) the Heinrich Böll Foundation in partnership with Tshwaranang Legal Advocacy Centre held a dialogue on the 1st of June 2012 to provide a space for engagement among non-profit organizations, social movements and trade unions in order to identify common concerns and positions in relation to GBV and to identify opportunities for collaboration on placing GBV at the forefront of political agendas by 2014.
Throughout the day many substantive questions, concerns and issues were raised in an attempt to understand what the main challenges were on addressing violence against women (VAW) and gender inequality: what were the limits that civil society faced in addressing these issues; why was violence against women not garnering as much attention as other issues and where was the political will that had first driven a strong agenda of women’s rights and equality in the late 1990’s?
The conclusions drawn from the dialogue were unanimous. Despite the fact that not all participating organizations are traditionally part of the women’s movement or specifically focus on issues of VAW, all agreed that there was an urgent need to join forces and develop a collective voice in order to raise the profile of VAW as well as prioritise addressing women’s gender equality rights.
It was also agreed that forming partnerships with government; continuing public education; and adopting other broader, multi-dimensional and sustainable strategies would enhance impact and assist in the achievement of these goals.
In order to drive the process forward an inter-sectoral working group, comprising of Rape Crisis Cape Town Trust, New Women’s Movement, Surplus Peoples Project and the National Council of Trade Unions, was established. In preparation for Women’s Month (August) one of the first strategies for this group will be to develop a set key of demands in relation to addressing VAW including the demand for the sustainability of organizations providing vital services to women. Other longer-term initiatives will also be developed to enhance work and strengthen alliances between activists working to end VAW.
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This project is funded by the European Union.