In October 2022, the Eastern Cape hosted its summit on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), with delegates from local, provincial, and national government, civil society, faith-based organisations, and traditional leaders participating. The report highlights key findings from the summit, showcasing significant statistics and incidents of GBVF within the region. A focus on female-headed households reveals a concerning number of cases linked to unemployment, meal insecurity, and high rates of violence. A notable drop in reported sexual offences is suggested to be due to under-reporting, while the majority of rapes occur in the homes of victims or perpetrators. The report also outlines the implementation of the National Strategic Plan (NSP), including progress in multi-sectoral coordination, victim empowerment services, and collaboration across different government sectors. However, challenges such as resource constraints, under-reporting, and rural safety remain. The Eastern Cape calls for increased efforts in areas like prevention, social cohesion, victim support, and economic empowerment, while amplifying collaboration between intergovernmental bodies, civil society, and local communities to achieve lasting impact.
Publication Year:
2022
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