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500 signatures reached
To: President Cyril Ramaphosa, Minister of the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities and the Chief Whip of the NCOP
Demand President Ramaphosa amends the GBVF Act Now!
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Public pressure forced President Ramaphosa to declare GBVF a national pandemic. If enough of us come together, we can force President Ramaphosa to pass stronger laws and properly fund work to end GBVF.
On May 24, 2024, President Ramaphosa signed a watered-down NCGBVF bill (National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide) Bill into law [1]. Although the bill is a crucial step in the right direction, it is missing key parts that will make it effective, like clarity on a funding framework or accountability mechanisms that ensure that government departments provide indicators on how they contribute to the fight against GBVF.
Women and children continue to die while the President refuses to be a champion of a strong GBVF bill. We call on President Ramaphosa to do right by all women and children living in this country and give justice to victims of Gender-Based Violence. We demand:
- A funding framework for the NSP GBVF.
- Fair representation of civil society on the council.
- Strong accountability mechanisms that ensure commitments are integrated into government performance indicators.
- Political leadership at the highest level, including the presidency.
- Inclusion of provincial and local structures in the fight against GBVF.
- Stop the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities from appointing the EndGBVF Collective as the council's secretariat, which should be appointed by the council's board in accordance with section 17 of the Act.
Why is this important?
The NCGBVF Act, in its current form, does not adequately reflect the 2018 commitment to combat GBVF. The Act must be urgently reviewed, and its shortcomings must be addressed through a participatory process that involves all key stakeholders. While the recent enactment of the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Act (NCGBVF Act) was intended to mark a significant step towards better leadership, coordination, and accountability in the fight against GBVF, it has unfortunately fallen short of its purpose. As it currently stands, the Act is grossly inadequate.
References
[1] President Cyril Ramaphosa signs into law National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Bill and National Prosecuting Authority Amendment Bill, 24 May 2024