Pretoria - Forensic social workers will now be available in all Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) units across the country.
The FCS units, which are in 176 policing areas countrywide, were established to conduct specialised investigations in the detection of all cases of sexual offences, domestic violence and child abuse.
Minister for Women, Children and People with Disabilities, Lulu Xingwana, said the introduction of forensic social workers will assist women and girls in presenting evidence that can improve the probability of successful prosecution in a court of law.
"By introducing these specialised units within the police service, government has ensured that conviction rates are increased," said Xingwana.
She was speaking at the United Nations 55th Session on the Status of Women (UNCSW) in New York.
Outlining South Africa's position at the session, the minister said crimes against women and children are a national priority and that government has put in place various programmes aimed at improving the challenges faced by women.
Xingwana told the UNCSW that South Africa is proud of its global best practice model for providing support to victims of sexual violence, the Thuthuzela Care Programme, which is recognised by the UN as the best practice model in addressing gender based violence.
A total of 28 Thuthuzela Care Centres have been established to serve as one-stop centres where victims of sexual violence can open a criminal case and get counselling and medical services, including ARVs for prevention of HIV - all under one roof.
"The Thuthuzela model weaves together the investigative, prosecutorial and judicial processes into an empathetic and expeditious mechanism of delivering justice to victims, while ensuring offender accountability.
"Our business is ending impunity for these crimes and turning victims of violence into survivors," Xingwana said.
