The Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation on 29 August presented its findings on gender-based violence and its recommendations for addressing these problems.
South Africa has spent a considerable amount of money creating various programmes in an attempt to combat the high instance of violence against women, however, according to Nonhlanhla Sibanda-Moyo of the centre, there is nothing to celebrate about being a woman despite it being Women’s Month.
Sibanda-Moyo presented the findings in Rosebank and said despite very progressive laws and policies, violence against women persisted. The findings will also be presented at a public seminar on 30 August where Minister of the Department of Women Susan Shabangu will be present.
“We tried to understand why violence persists and what we need to do to address it,” said Sibanda-Moyo. “It really does seem like a lot is being done yet we are seeing very little change, women in South Africa are still not feeling safe.”
Some strategies suggested include harsher punishments for perpetrators as well as addressing the structural barriers such as economic instability which leads women to depend on abusive men.
“We are pushing for a nationally coordinated plan to address violence against women but we are also saying that the plan needs to take into consideration that as women we have very diverse identities.”
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Nhlanhla Mokwena of People Opposing Women Abuse said, “The research has highlighted the opportunities in terms of strategies. Currently, all the funding that civil society organisations which provide services to survivors of violence receive is mostly reactionary. We are waiting for survivors to come to us rather than the funding allowing us to go and work in communities.
“The plan must speak to an individual, a group and an institution including government and the private sector and ask how do we as a country address violence against women and how do we invest in a multi-sectoral programme to address violence against women.”
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