DSD Updates

Open day event to commemorate the 16 Days of Activism on No Violence Against Women and Children

Address by Deputy Minister of Social Development, Dr Jean Swanson-Jacobs, at the intersectoral open day event to commemorate the 16 Days of Activism on No Violence Against Women and Children, 30 November

Programme Director, Ms Sadi Luka
Mayor of Tshwane, Dr Gwen Ramokgopa
Acting Director-General, Mr Zane Dangor
Ms Rosemary Ngobeni, Soshanguve Trauma Centre
Mr Dumisani Rebombo, Men as Partners
Government officials
Civil Society Organisations
Ladies and Gentlemen
Members of the media

Good morning to one and all.

At the opening of the first democratically elected Parliament, our former President, Mr Nelson Mandela set the agenda for addressing the rights of women in a post apartheid South Africa, when he stated:

“Freedom cannot be achieved unless women have been emancipated from all forms of oppression.  All of us must take this on board that the objectives of the Reconstruction and Development Programme will not have been realised unless we see, in practical and visible terms, that the conditions of women in our country has been changed for the better and that they have been empowered to intervene in all aspects of life as equals with any other member of society.”

This year we commemorated the 30th anniversary of the death of our struggle stalwart Steve Biko. There is no doubt that he would have been appalled at the way women have been treated in the new South Africa. The incidence of violence perpetrated against women and children has reached unprecedented levels. Over 55 000 women were raped in our country last year. There were over 10 000 cases of indecent assault, while adult women who were victims of family murders rose by 13,9 percent. Such figures are a betrayal of the struggle for freedom and democracy in our land. We did not fight for justice to see injustices committed against the weak and vulnerable. We did not fight for fairness to witness victims of these crimes being treated callously. We did not fight for equality so that women can become society’s punching bags.

Government has adopted the United Nations campaign of 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children. This campaign seeks to uphold the rights and restore the dignity of the most vulnerable in our society. We as a nation will be engaging in various activities, events and programmes aimed at raising awareness around the scourge of violence and abuse of our women and children. Other objectives include:

• increasing awareness of gender-based violence and violence directed at children, particularly those living in rural and other traditionally marginalised communities
• encouraging behaviour change among perpetrators and potential perpetrators of violence against women and children
• highlighting the correlation between violence against women and children and other social ills such as substance abuse
• raising funds to support places of safety providing services to victims and survivors of violence and abuse
• underscoring the extreme vulnerability to abuse faced by special groups, such as farm workers and women and children with disabilities
• strengthening inter-sectoral partnerships aimed at eradicating the violence and abuse suffered by women and children
• facilitating the participation of men and boys in campaign activities and events.

To this end we have embarked on a number of programmes. A cornerstone of our campaign this year is the Million Men's March. It was conceived to sharpen the focus and mainstream the participation of our men and boys in this campaign The Million Men's March is symbolic of men and boys joining together with women to say "No!" to the abuse of women and children. It will further highlight the fact that violence against women and children is not only a women's issue, but a societal issue, an issue that should concern everybody.

The SMS Campaign is another mechanism for members of the public to get involved in the 16 Days of Activism Campaign. The aim of the SMS campaign is to provide an opportunity for the general public to pledge support for non-violence, to spread the message to "act against abuse" and to raise funds for places of safety for abused women and children. Members of the public can contribute to the campaign by sending an SMS with the words "16 Days" to 31616. For each SMS sent, a donation of R5 is made to the 16 Days of Activism fund. The donations are administered, managed and disbursed by the Foundation for Human Rights (FHR), a civil society partner and friend of the campaign.

Through the Foundation for Human Rights we have been able to bring the message against gender violence to the most rural of communities. In Limpopo FHR assisted the Matlala Advice Office conduct workshops on violence against women and children in area covering sixty villages. In the Eastern Cape the FHR supported the Gompo Child Abuse Centre and was able to translate human rights materials on children’s rights and child abuse into isiXhosa. Similar projects were helped in other provinces. This resulted in more women and children coming forward to utilize their services.

Another important initiative is the One Man Can Campaign. This campaign provides men and boys with resources to act on their concerns about domestic and sexual violence. It was launched in 2006 in conjunction with the 16 Days of Activism Campaign. This campaign provides an action toolkit for men that include a resource directory, workshop materials and information on how to develop healthy relationships and how to support victims of violence.

Government as a whole is strengthening its hand in the battle to protect women and children. The Service Charter for Victims of Crime in South Africa will be launched soon and combines the current legal framework on the rights of victims of crime with the services to be provided to them. It identifies seven key rights for which victims can demand from the criminal justice system and related service providers like hospitals. The Charter aims to ensure that victims remain central to the criminal justice process in South Africa, to eliminate "secondary victimisation" from this process. The complementary Minimum Standards on Service for Victims of Crime aims to explain the rights contained in the Victims' Charter further, and to help make these rights a reality - by giving detailed information to enable victims to exercise their rights and service providers to uphold them.

Over 20 000 government officials and personnel, police officers and Train-the-Trainers have already been trained on the Victims Charter nationally, including chairperson and vice-chairpersons of all the Parole Boards. In 2006, 50 000 victims were prepared for court by 66 trained court preparation officers and the Victims Support Directorate established in 2005 as part of the Department of Justice, also added to the growing empowerment and support of victims of crime in the country.

The Department of Social Development has also been involved in other projects which have been supported by funds from the Criminal Assets Recovery Account, administered by the National Prosecuting Authority. In conjunction with the provincial departments of social development we are busy establishing two new shelters for victims of domestic violence in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga. At least one shelter in each of the nine provinces has been prioritized for upgrading, with a focus on rural areas. Support to civil society bodies involved in running victim empowerment and support centres has also been strengthened and we will be handing out cheques to some of these organizations today. We are also embarking on initiatives to engage men and boys in the prevention of gender-based violence.

The National Child Protection Register is also up and running and enables us to have a record of all abused children with the aim of rendering effective services and protecting them from further harm. With the passing of the Children’s Amendment Bill this programme will be strengthened by the creation of a register of offenders. Any person deemed by a court of law as “unsuitable” for working with children will be added to this register. This will further protect the most vulnerable in our society from those predators that prey on our children. In partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime we have also established eight One-Stop Centres that deal with gender-based violence. These centres provide counselling, support, training, paralegal advice and medical attention to victims of violence, as well as rehabilitation programmes for male perpetrators and potential offenders, in order to break the cycle of violence.

Tomorrow, the 1st of December we commemorate World AIDS Day. This day provides an opportunity to draw attention to how the pandemic particularly affects women and children and how, if coupled with gender-based violence, increases women and children's vulnerability. Our view in government is that there is a clear link between violence against women and HIV infection. Socio-economic factors, unequal gender and sexual relations, unprotected sex, and alcohol and drug abuse are among the factors that have increased the negative impact of HIV and AIDS. Therefore, behaviour change programmes form part of government's prevention efforts to stop the spread of HIV and AIDS. These programmes are especially important during the festive season when increased violence and risky behaviour make women more vulnerable.

The 16 Days Campaign is not only a campaign of government, but encompasses a wider partnership with civil society, faith-based organisations, gender-based organisations, traditional leaders, trade unions, the media, business, state-owned enterprises and the youth. Government values the partnerships that have been built over the years and would like to thank each and every partner for their contribution. We urge you to intensify your role now and into the future. Violence against women is not a women’s issue, but a challenge for greater society to tackle.

Together, let us act against abuse!

Thank you.

Minister Zola Skweyiya to outline role of the Church in the fight against HIV /AIDS, Women and Child Abuse

30 November 2007

Minister Zola Skweyiya to outline role of the Church in the fight against HIV /AIDS, Women and Child Abuse

The Minister of Social Development, Dr. Zola Skweyiya will deliver the keynote address at the historic occasion of the renaming of the West Rand Circuit (WRC)  of the Presbyterian Church of Africa (PCA) to JBR Musi Memorial. The event takes place at the Dobsonville PCA on Sunday at 12:00 noon. In his address the Minister is expected to amongst others outline the role of the church in the fight against HIV and AIDS.

“We feel honoured and excited that the Minister of Social Development will cast light on the important role that the church should play in fighting one of the biggest scourges facing our communities, HIV/AIDS. It will indeed be a fitting tribute to the commemoration of of World AIDS Day and 16 Days of Activism Against Violence on Women and Children. The time has come for the church to stand up and be counted especially the  PCA which is preparing to celebrate 110 years of its existence,” says Reverend SK Sihlahla of the WRC.

The occasion, which is expected to be attended by hundreds of members of the congregation, priests from across the country as well as Mayors and other community leaders,  will also be marked by amongst others • the unveiling of the JBR Musi plague;  and • delivery of messages by the representatives of the youth, women as well as the Musi Family.

Issued by : Presbyterian Church of Africa, Rev. SK Sihlahla, 076 613 3609

Help to people in distress

Media Statement

29 November 2007

Money to help people in distress

The National Department of Social Development is to make available a total of R87million to provinces to help individuals and families who are living in extreme poverty.

This was announced at the meeting of the Minister of Social Development, Dr Zola Skweyiya and provincial MECs in Durban today, 29th of November.

The funds, additional to amounts provinces already have for relief, will be utilised to assist individuals and families that are facing hardship, to enable them to cope in the short term while they look for long term solutions to their predicament. The Social Relief of Distress grant will be distributed in the form of cash or food parcels depending on household needs.

"This is an important intervention from government, especially in light of the steep rise in food prices, unemployment and other difficulties which have worsened the circumstances of the extremely poor", said Minister Skweyiya.

The current allocations are as follows:

Eastern Cape: R9 million
Free State: R3, 9 million
Gauteng: R11 m
Mpumalanga: R5, 6m
Northern Cape: R2, 6m
North West: R7, 6 m
Western Cape: R4, 5m
KwaZulu-Natal: R24m

The Minister added that the money is not intended to promote dependency. "It is a short term measure to assist those in distress until they get back on their feet," he said.

Enquiries: Lakela Kaunda on 082 782 2575.
Issued by the Dept of Social Development Pretoria

Social Grant anti-fraud campaign focuses on KwaZulu-Natal

Media advisory

29 November 2007

Social Grant anti-fraud campaign focuses on KwaZulu-Natal

Minister of Social Development, Dr. Zola Skweyiya and the MEC for Social Development in KwaZulu-Natal, Mr. Meshack Rhadebe, are to take the campaign against fraud and corruption in the social grants system to kwaHlabisa in northern KwaZulu-Natal on the 4th of December. 

This comes as an official was found to have deliberately destroyed hundreds of food vouchers meant for destitute Children in the area.

The area has been affected by fraud in the distribution of social assistance, especially social relief of distress, known commonly as food parcels. The visit will also focus on promoting services to orphans and vulnerable children, including those made vulnerable due to HIV and AIDS. The outreach programme will also promote the Children's Amendment Bill provisions, including Early Childhood Development. Mobile trucks from Home Affairs and SA Social Security Agency will be on hand for grant and civic documents registrations.

Media is invited to cover the event

Date: 4 December
Venue: Kwa-Hlabisa Sports Ground
Time: 09h00

For enquiries contact Zingaphi Jakuja on: 074 197 8383 or Dumisani Ngcobo on 083 227 5483

ISSUED BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Social Development MINMEC to meet in Durban

Media Advisory

27 November 2007

Social Development MINMEC to meet in Durban

Social Development Minister, Dr. Zola Skweyiya will meet with MECs responsible for Social Development in all provinces to evaluate priority programmes embarked on this year and plan for next year on November, 29 at the Durban International Convention Centre.

Prominent issues for discussion during the MINMEC (Minister and MECs) meeting include:

• Readiness of provinces to implement the Children’s Act.
• Norms and Standards for Social Welfare Services and Early Childhood Development
• Reconstruction and development in the DRC.

For enquiries call Zingaphi Jakuja on (012) 312 7381.

ISSUED BY
THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Multi-year Study on the impact of Child Support Grants

Address by Minister of Social Development Dr Zola Skweyiya at the opening of the Workshop on the Multi-year Study on the impact of Child Support Grants

Salutations,

Yesterday saw the launch of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women campaign.  The campaign offers us an opportunity an opportunity to renew our pledge and determination to fight against women and child abuse.  For our part, the Department has put in place various mechanisms aimed at transforming gender and power relations in society.  Through key social and cash transfer programmes such as the Child Support Grant we have begun to instil and offer choices to millions of people who would have otherwise remained in abusive relationships and/or households.

This workshop is yet another contribution to this fight.  It is our hope that the intended multi year study will also cast some light on the societal transformation potential and impact of the Child Support Grant.  Many have provided negative speculations with regards to the relationship between these grants and society.  These speculations have concluded, in the main, that these grants carry with them perverse incentives, such as teenage pregnancies.  As far as we can tell there is very little correlation between increased take up rates and teenage pregnancies.  We have reached this conclusion after extensive research which, amongst others, shows that although teenage pregnancies (like anywhere in the world) are unacceptably high the take up rate of teenagers is relatively.

Further, the general take up rate of these grants, even after extensive public awareness campaign is at 35 per cent.  It is quite clear to us that teenage pregnancy is a consequence of various socio-economic factors which require an integrated onslaught.

Such an integrated outlook also ought to include public education and the development of empirical evidence based policies and interventions.  The increasing momentum on empirical evidence based policy making and interventions is not only encouraged nationally to optimally align resources to results, to obtain funding and citizen confidence in processes but also to enable cross country comparisons.  The challenges for a developing country like South Africa to fully incorporate empirical evidence in all its policies and interventions are cost, capacity and time constraints.

Traditionally we addressed the needs of our people through compassion and altruism.  Although these processes did to some extent respond to community level needs, they could not be up-scaled.  This was so because the needs were so dire and widespread, in the context of an anti-development Apartheid State.  Given the decades if not centuries of underdevelopment in South Africa, supply side constraints will be an issue we will have to endure for some time.  Given the serious supply side constraints we cannot be overly ambitious about the impacts of our policies and interventions. 

This is consistent with any transitional state in the developed and the developing world.  For instance, according to UNICEF “at least 600 million children under the age of 18 struggle to survive on less than a dollar a day.  This represented a staggering 40% of children in developing countries.”  This problem is not only today’s problem but also reflects the future our children will live in.  This is so because, there is indisputable evidence that shows that early life poverty has the detrimental effects of extending over the entire life of an individual and can generate or reinforce intergenerational poverty persistence.  Appropriate and evidence based policy responses to childhood poverty and vulnerability are therefore critical in turning this tide against childhood poverty.

The South African case is compounded by inherited and persistent inequalities.  These inequalities are best characterized by the geographic, racial and class based skew as in relation to unemployment, poor infrastructure, and participation in the economic mainstream.  In summary our conclusion is that the face of poverty and inequality is a rural with a child on her back.  Trailing behind her is a young woman who, unless we take further steps is also destined to be that woman.

In recognition of this fact during the adoption of our constitution we confirmed what we had said in the Freedom Charter, our struggle is a struggle for the rights of every South African, no matter their station in life.

We are therefore determined, whilst recognizing resource constraints, to ensure that we gradually move away from discretionary approaches to social and public service delivery. We do so, because these rights have been hard earned and are the best avenue to maximise human capital development.  Unfortunately, in the current supply side epoch our citizens secure one right only to expend it on another.  Indeed many of our child beneficiaries utilise their cash transfers to access constitutionally guaranteed rights such as food, education and health.  This results in the value for money surpassing human dignity, which is critical for human development.  I am not saying there is no place for value for money, it is cardinal in guiding public service expenditure, all I am saying is that it cannot surpass human development in the ladder of priority, for the value of life is infinite.

Because we value life we have made it a point to emphasise the positive aspects of cash transfers as a short and medium term response.  Our studies show that show that parents do not only use the Child Support Grant for the children for whom it is intended, but in the interest of all the children in the family.  The money is spent on food, education, accessing health care in the absence of primary health care and clothing.  These studies also show that households that receive the Child Support Grant are more likely to seek employment than those that do not.  The Social Assistance programme is the largest income redistribution programme in South Africa in the absence of long term employment creation especially for the semi and unskilled.  It promotes solidarity by redistributing income from the young to the old, from men to women and from urban to rural.  Studies also show that it has an impact on reducing income inequality by 3% and household poverty by 20%.

The Child Support Grant responds to malnutrition in children. A study using height or age measure shows that children who received the Child Support Grant over long periods of time showed an improvement in their nutritional status and a reduction in stunted growth and that returns on the Child Support Grant were between 165% and 265%. The school enrolment rate is reported to be 98% and the primary school completion rate 96%.

In addition to the macro social impacts on human capital development there are also micro social impacts namely:

1. Family Preservation
The Child Support Grant enables orphan children to remain together as a family unit instead of being separated though foster care placements when children in a larger family cannot find a single placement. It enables women to remove themselves from abusive relationships and remain with their children as a family unit. It enables unemployed parents to sustain their families. The elderly and person with disabilities become a resource in the family and not a burden.

2. Pooling of Resources to Mitigate Risk
In poor families, incomes from different sources are pooled to support a larger number of people. Grandmothers extend their pensions to support unrelated child headed households in the community. Older children are educated. Sick members are provided with care.

3. Empowerment and Decision Making
Women are empowered through some financial independence to make choices and decisions in the interest of their children and their wellbeing and remove themselves from abuse and unsafe environments. It enables them to access information, skills, training, education and social services to improve their life’s chances.

Income support has the same impact on the lives of poor as it does for the affluent.  Thus it is important that as we do our work of extending rights to our people we also apply our minds to also extending opportunities to those very same people.  Such an extension of opportunity requires an integrated poverty eradication strategy which addresses human development whilst also unlocking the economic potential of our communities.  For us, the meeting point of social policy, micro economics, and macro economics is not in boardrooms but in communities.  Were you to clarify this for us, in this seminar, we would be almost halfway to finally turning the tide.  This proposed study holds for us this hope that this intersection would become evident and could be a start to re-instilling the dignity of our people.
I Thank you.

Social Development, SASSA and UNICEF to assess impact of child support grant (CSG)

21 November 2007

Media Advisory

Social Development, SASSA and UNICEF to assess impact of child support grant (CSG)

The Department of Social Development, SA Social Security Agency and UNICEF are to host the first ever workshop with international experts to assess the impact of the Child Support Grant in South Africa, from the 26th -29th of November, 2007.

Social Development Minister Zola Skweyiya will officially open the workshop on the 26th of November at 9h00, at the SA Reserve Bank conference centre, Pretoria.

The workshop has the following objectives:

·        To share national and international experiences of impact evaluation of social grants.

·        To explore methodological alternatives to implement a multi-year impact study of the child support grant.

The media is invited to cover the event.

Enquiries:
Lakela Kaunda, 012 312 7653/082 782 2575.
Zingaphi Matanzima, 012 312 7381/073 122 3133.
Jonas Mashigo 012 312 7793.

Issued by the National Department of Social Development
Pretoria.

16 days of activism key messages

16 days of activism key messages

Government again joins all sectors of society to mark 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Child Abuse from 25 November to 10 December. Everyone should wear the white ribbon during this time to show they do not accept women and child abuse.

1. The campaign to fight violence against women and children is growing each year

More and more South Africans are heeding the national call to fight against women and child abuse and the level of awareness for the campaign is growing

Efforts have been made by government and its partners to translate the 16 Days of Activism Campaign into a sustainable 365 Days of Action.

The Million Men’s march, one of the key elements of this year’s campaign, is aspirational and will ensure the mobilisation of men and the boy child for inclusion into the 16 days campaign.

The March hopes to strike a chord with and touch millions of men and boys. Government hopes men and boys will in future step forward so that there can be millions on the march signaling to society and the perpetrators of violent abuse that they are against this behaviour.

2. Although the level of awareness of the 16 days campaign has grown tremendously in both urban and rural areas, the abuse of women and children in the country remains unacceptably high.

Research conducted has shown that the level of awareness of the 16 days campaign has grown from 16% in 2003 to 33% in 2006. However, the abuse of women and children in the country still remains unacceptably high.

Government hopes that through the Million Men’s March, men will be encouraged to interact and discuss this scourge amongst themselves and find mechanisms to actively discourage this behaviour.

Government notes that there is a clear link between violence against women and HIV infection.
Socio-economic factors, unequal gender and sexual relations, unprotected sex, and alcohol and drug abuse are among factors that have increased the impact of HIV and AIDS.

Therefore, behaviour change programmes form part of government’s prevention efforts to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS.

These programmes are especially important during the festive season when increased violence and risky behaviour make women more vulnerable.

3. Government has created an extensive policy and legislative framework that deals with crime and signals to offenders that it will not tolerate violent abuse.

The Domestic Violence Act of 1998 and the Sexual Offences Bill reaffirm the rights of women and children to live in a violence free society.

Government has moved a step further in the process of promulgating the Sexual Offences Bill, which when passed by the NCOP, will provide greater protection to vulnerable persons who are victims of sexual offences.

The JCPS Cluster is working towards strengthening all police stations by equipping them with specialised unit’s i.e. Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Units. This change will ensure that all police stations get specialised units which will assist in preventing delays in the processing of cases reported.

4.  The launch of the Victim’s Charter and its implementation plan, will represent the flame that will signal hope for many victims of crime 

The Victims Charter ensures that a comprehensive and integrated response is provided to victims of crime.

The Charter is in line with government’s vision that seeks to cultivate a human rights culture by ensuring that victims needs, either material or emotional, are met.

The seven rights contained in the charter include the right to be treated with fairness and with respect for dignity and privacy; right to offer information; right to receive information; right to protection; right to assistance; right to compensation; right to restitution.

If you have been a victim of crime; victims rights, as contained in the constitution and relevant legislation will be upheld when you come into contact with police, prosecutors, magistrates, clerks of the court, parole officers, doctors, nurses and social workers. 

5. The Victims Charter includes the Minimum Standards on Services for Victims of Crime.

The Minimum Standards serve as a guideline for service providers (police; prosecutors; social workers; magistrates; health; correctional services and education personnel) who interact with victims of crime.

It determines the minimum standards that victims can expect from government departments. 

Let us renew the pledge to fight against women and child abuse!

16 Days of Activism against women and children abuse

16 Days of Activism against women and children abuse

When reading newspapers daily, one is confronted by headlines screaming about the abuse of women and children. To eliminate the scourge and increase awareness on this issue, government is again embarking on 16 Days of Activism For No Violence against Women and Children Campaign.

This annual United Nations-endorsed awareness-raising campaign, which starts from 25 November to 10 December, forms part of government’s year-long, integrated and cross-sectoral drive to eliminate the abuse of women and children. It also contributes to government’s primary developmental objective of restoring individuals’ human dignity, within the context of safer and more secure families and communities.

The objective of the campaign is to promote the National Action Plan to end violence against women and children, in partnership with other stakeholders. These include the justice, crime prevention and security cluster; social sector cluster; provincial and local government; women’s and youth organisations; traditional leaders; state-owned enterprises; faith-based organisations; the private/business sector; academics, non-governmental organisations, community-based organisations and the media.

It is hoped that the campaign will generate an increased level of awareness on how domestic violence against women and children manifests itself within South African society and the negative impact it has on these vulnerable groups.

On the other hand, the campaign aims to challenge perpetrators of such deplorable actions to change their behaviour, and also emphasises the need to enhance partnerships between government, the private sector, all civil-society formations and other stakeholders, in an effort to spread the message. 

The 2007 campaign will kick-off with a Million Men’s March (MMM) on 25 November in the Free State. The MMM is aspirational and seeks to mobilise men and the boy child for inclusion into the 16 Days of Activism campaign, and also to acknowledge that there are many men who are not perpetrators but responsible partners. It is hoped to touch millions of men and that in the future millions of men and boys should participate in the march on 25 November.

It is of utmost importance that the 16 Days of Activism campaign reaches people at grassroots level and also permeate into the rural areas to make a direct and positive impact on the lives of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable groups of our society. For the duration of the campaign, please wear a white ribbon and pledge your support at: www.postoffice.co.za and www.gov.za

Phantsi ngokuhlukunyezwa kwabafazi na bantwana, phantsi! (Away with the abuse of women and children!)

By Balosang Sanki Lerefolo

Kopanong Declaration Declaration: 365 Days of Action to End Violence Against Women and Children

Kopanong Declaration Declaration: 365 Days of Action to End Violence Against Women and Children

In our efforts to intensify the fight against women and child abuse, government working with civil society has adopted a declaration on 5th May 2006 calling for a year-long action plan to reduce violence against women and children. The Kopanong Declaration – 365 Days of Action is a testimony to the nations resolve to end violence against women and children.

THE KOPANONG DECLARATION

We the participants at this watershed conference to agree on a coordinated and comprehensive approach to ending violence against women and children;

Consisting, as we do, of 260 representatives from all spheres of government; constitutional bodies; civil society; business; unions; faith-based organisations; traditional authorities and international cooperating partners including United Nations Agencies;   

Concerned, that ten years after our Constitution came into force and the ratification of several international human rights instruments the rights of people who suffer gender based violence are still daily violated;

Convinced that the Age of Hope depends on all South Africans living in an environment where they are free from fear and able to exercise and enjoy their full human rights;

Aware that the Sixteen Days of Activism campaign needs to be sustained all year around;

Recommit ourselves to the following fundamental provisions of the Constitution:

•    The equality clause which outlaws unfair discrimination on grounds of  race, gender, sex, pregnancy, marital status, ethnic or social origin, colour, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, conscience, belief, culture, language and birth.
•    The right to human dignity.
•    The clause on freedom and security of the person which states that everyone has the right to “bodily and psychological integrity”. This includes the right to make decisions concerning reproduction; to security and control over one’s body and to dignity.
•    Socio-economic rights such as right to adequate housing, health care services, food, water and social security.
•    The statement that in cases where customary law or any law conflicts with the Constitution, the Constitution will take precedence.

Commit ourselves to finalising a detailed action plan whose overarching objectives are to:

•    Strengthen and place far greater emphasis on prevention through forging effective partnerships with all stakeholders, including schools, parents associations, community based organisations; the media; local government; traditional and religious leaders; the private sector and inter government sector as well as develop criteria for monitoring the effectiveness of such campaigns.
•    Ensure men work together with women in eliminating patriarchy. 
•    Create a safe physical environment.
•    Promote a holistic, empowerment approach to eradicating violence against women and children that takes account of the intersection of race, class, location, disability and sexuality and of the role of poverty and economic inequality in fuelling this scourge. 
•    Eradicate violence against women and children in a targeted and measured way over the coming decade, based on baseline data on sexual offenses, domestic violence, sexual harassment, hate crimes and identity based violence to be established as part of the action plan.
•    Develop, enact and implement a comprehensive legislative framework that gives effect to the rights of all citizens especially women and children to be free from gender based violence;  cost the laws in place and develop business plans, for their implementation;
•    Ensure an integrated case management system operating on minimum standards with a view to reduce cycle times and increase conviction rates of perpetrators of gender violence;
•    Eliminate secondary victimisation by improving services to survivors of gender violence and ensure that every survivor has access to comprehensive treatment, victim friendly care that is standardised and coordinated between the various service providers;
•    Provide effective support and help to empower survivors of gender violence to reclaim their lives and dignity; as well as to rehabilitate perpetrators
•    Put in place effective monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.

We further commit to ensuring that the following priority actions, at a minimum, are taken before the 2006 Sixteen Day campaign that starts on 25 November 2006:

•    The Sexual Offences Bill is passed after a further round of public comment.
•    The Children’s Bill is passed as part of the development, promulgation, resourcing and implementation of legislation and policy to effectively prevent and respond to violence against children harmonised with international conventions, standards and norms.
•    An audit of all specialised services (forensic clinic services, one- stop centres, Victim Empowerment Centres etc) is conducted to determine what exists and to develop a best practice model.
•    A strategy is developed for the management of sexual offences including the establishment of sexual offences courts, with participation of NGO service providers;
•    The drafting of a joint, integrated training plan on violence against women and children and a body to co-ordinate the above;
•    Development of implementation plans for all existing policies and procedures including the National Policy on Sexual Assault Care Practice under the IDMT. This should include provincial and civil society representation and should have a strong public education and awareness component;
•    Formulate a policy framework on partnerships between government and non-governmental organisations in the provision of shelters and places of safety to include all stakeholders, including local government. 
•    Canvass the draft action plan extensively with all stakeholders, especially those not represented at this conference, and those that have the capacity to ensure that this plan is effected at community level, such as local government, schools and traditional authorities.
•    Put in place the coordinating structure for the National Action Plan including a multi-sector task team comprising representatives of all the working committees and a Council of Deputy Ministers chaired by the Deputy Minister of Local Government as the champion of the Sixteen Day campaign;
•    Put in place a secretariat with the necessary technical support to ensure effective capacity and implementation.
•    Find mechanisms to ensure relevant disaggregated data; agree on key targets and baselines for the effective monitoring and evaluation of the action plan; and put in place a computerised tracking system to be developed with assistance from the IT department of Treasury;
•    Finalise the short term action plan for the next six months by June and receive any additional inputs for the medium term action plan by the end of June with a view to adopting the 2007 Action Plan at the end of this year’s Sixteen Day campaign on 10 December.

We, commit to collective resource mobilization to ensure that these actions are taken and will hold each other mutually accountable for the actions we have pledged to ensure that every woman and child in our nation is able to enjoy the rights to which they are entitled by our Constitution.

Agreed this 5th day of May 2006.