Discussion
Details
Crime and violence are common features of the South African society. Nevertheless, women and girls are often most vulnerable, particularly to various forms of gender-based violence (GBV). Women and girls live in fear in their homes and in their communities. In the third quarter crime statistics of 2023/2024 it was reported that a woman is raped every 12 minutes in South Africa. GBV is a profound human rights violation with major social and developmental impacts for survivors of violence, as well as their families, communities, and society more broadly.
On an individual level, GBV leads to psychological trauma, and can have psychological, behavioral and physical consequences for survivors. In many parts of the country, there is poor access to formal psychosocial or even medical support, which means that many survivors are unable to access the help they need. Families and loved ones of survivors can also experience indirect trauma, and many do not know how to provide effective support. Despite the country’s robust legal framework and policies aimed at tackling GBV, the practice is deeply rooted in societal norms and incidents continue to escalate at an alarming rate.
The dialogue seeks to explore the impact of the intervention of government to address gender-based violence and femicide.
