The sixth National Shelter Indaba has called for a strengthened national and global effort to curb gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), with stakeholders stressing the need for greater collaboration and collective action to address the scourge.
The three-day engagement, hosted by the Department of Social Development in partnership with the National Shelter Movement of South Africa (NSMSA), brings together government officials, shelter representatives and other stakeholders involved in providing services to women and children affected by violence.
Since its inception in 2021, the National Shelter Indaba has provided a platform for officials, practitioners and other role players to share knowledge, experiences and lessons aimed at strengthening the response to GBVF.
It also provides stakeholders with an opportunity to identify gaps and challenges affecting the delivery of services to abused women and their children, while developing strategies to improve support and protection.
READ | Shelter indaba places GBVF response under spotlight
Reflecting on developments since GBVF was classified as a national disaster, Social Development Director responsible for the Victim Empowerment Programme, Sibusiso Malope, said South Africa continues to face a high prevalence of GBVF.
“The country is globally among the top five countries with a high rate of GBVF incidents. Following the classification of GBVF as a national disaster, NATJOINTS [National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure] was established, involving various departments, including Social Development; Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities; Justice; the South African Police Service; and the Presidency,” Malope said.
He said NATJOINTS has established several workstreams to strengthen the national response, covering prevention and social cohesion, enforcement, care and support, the legal and regulatory framework, statistics and systems, accountability, funding and costing, communication and partnerships, as well as monitoring.
“These workstreams are intended to assess whether all commitments are being actioned,” Malope said.
Tolerance and social cohesion were among the issues discussed on the first day of the Indaba, with government and shelter representatives highlighting their importance in addressing the social conditions that contribute to violence and inequality.
The discussions emphasised the need for South Africans to play an active role in preventing GBVF in homes, places of worship, communities and workplaces.
This includes challenging cultures, norms and practices that perpetuate gender inequality and violence against vulnerable groups, including women, children, older persons and persons with disabilities.
The Department of Social Development leads Pillar 4 of the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NSP-GBVF), which focuses on response, care, support and healing.
The pillar is implemented in collaboration with other government departments, civil society organisations and stakeholder partners to ensure a coordinated response to survivors and victims of GBVF.
The annual National Shelter Indaba provides a platform for stakeholders to examine challenges confronting the shelter sector, exchange best practices and strengthen partnerships aimed at improving services to victims and survivors.
The engagement also promotes dialogue and collaborative approaches to addressing gaps in the national GBVF response, particularly in relation to care, support and healing.
Members of the public are encouraged to prevent and report incidents of GBV by contacting the Gender-Based Violence Command Centre (GBVCC) on 0800 428 428.
The GBVCC can also be reached by sending a “PLEASE CALL ME” to *120*7867#, sending an SMS with the word “HELP” to 31531, or via Skype at Helpme GBV, where professional social workers are available to provide assistance. – SAnews.gov.za
