Gender Justice Barometer, Issue 4: July 2006

Southern Africa

Gender Justice Barometer

Issue 4: July 2006

The Gender Justice Barometer is a joint project of Gender Links and the Gender and Media Southern Africa (GEMSA) Network

In this issue:

1. South Africa: Implementing the National Action Plan

2. LEGISLATION:

* Zimbabwe gazettes Domestic Violence Bill

* Rape law enforced in Liberia

3. INTEGRATED APPROACHES

* Zimbabwe: National Gender Based Violence Strategy Document and Action Plan

* Mauritius: Developing a National Action Plan to End Gender Violence

4. SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL FACTORS

* Swazi women say no to polygamy

* Lesotho responds to increase in reported cases of sexual violence

5. OPINION AND ANALYSIS

* Women speak out on high costs of sanitary products

* Freedom of what? Protection from who?

We encourage your feedback, comments and information you would like us to include. Send an email to: editor@genderlinks.org.za

1. South Africa: Implementing the National Action Plan

It is essential that the implementation of the National Action Plan is owned at all levels; from district to national level. This is the consensus of members of the 365 Day Task Team, which was established at the end of the National Action Plan to End Gender Violence Conference in May.

Members of the Task Team were nominated during the conference and comprise a cross-section of roleplayers in the gender violence sector including government and civil society representatives. The Task Team’s work is structured around five clusters: prevention, response, support, coordination and children and other vulnerable groups.

Individual cluster meetings have been scheduled to discuss and action more specific aspects of implementing the plan, especially in the lead up to the 16 Days of Activism Campaign. Organisations that were not at the National Action Plan Conference, but who have a role to play in implementing the plan will be invited to participate in the Task Team at the level of the five clusters to ensure proper representation and participation.

The National Action Plan may soon benefit from additional capacity through the establishment of a Programme Management Unit which will be housed at the National Prosecuting Authority.

For more information contact Gender Links at +27 11 622 2877 or the Sexual Offences and Community Affairs Unit of the National Prosecuting Authority at +27 12 845 6136

2. LEGISLATION

Zimbabwe gazettes Domestic Violence Bill

The Zimbabwean Domestic Violence Bill was finally gazetted on Friday 3^rd July 2006. Gender and women’s rights activists have fought an uphill battle to move the Bill which was first tabled almost four years ago.

The law will bring relief for many women who have experienced domestic violence but, because of loopholes in current legislation; have not been able to obtain legal recourse.

For example, provisions in the Bill seek to broaden the scope of domestic violence to include physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional, verbal and psychological abuse, economic abuse, intimidation, harassment, stalking, damage to property, entry into complainant’s place without consent where the parties do not share the same residence. The Bill makes specific reference to economic violence and covers issues such as a complainant’s right (out of necessity) to school fees and medical expenses and mentions denying the complainant access to seek employment or engage in income generating activities as economic violence. This is a milestone for many women who have been living in perpetual economic instability.

Part Two of the Bill defines the duties and powers of the police. It will now be mandatory that every police station in the country be staffed with an officer trained to handle domestic violence cases and other family related issues. He or she will advise on matters such as where to obtain shelter or medical treatment or assist the complainant to apply for relief or lodge a criminal complaint if they so choose.

Source: Loveness Jambaya, Gender and Media Southern Africa (GEMSA) Network.

Click here to read an article published in The Herald in Zimbabwe.

Rape law enforced in Liberia

The Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia (AFELL) and UNFPA are conducting gender-based violence awareness campaigns about the country’s new rape law. The new law increases the penalties for rape, including gang rape and assaults of children under the age of 18.

Speaking at the International Symposium on Sexual Violence in Conflict and Beyond in June, Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf said: “As many of you know, a rape law was passed in our country last year. My administration will enforce without fear or favour this law, will support and increase the writ of laws that restore the dignity of women and girls, ensure that they receive real protection from sexual violence and abuse in their homes and communities, and that survivors of sexual violence receive qualitative reproductive health services and necessary care to address the horrifying violence they have endured.”

Source: Angela Walker

Read more:

Liberian men and women unite to fight rape

Brussels Symposium Participants Call for Zero Tolerance of Sexual Violence in War-Affected Countries

3. INTEGRATED APPROACHES

Zimbabwe: National Gender Based Violence Strategy Document and Action Plan

The Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Gender and Community Development (formerly the Ministry of Youth Gender, and Employment Creation) are set to launch a National Gender Based Violence Strategy Document and Action Plan. The strategy document is a result of work begun in 2001 by the ministry in collaboration with UN agencies and civic organisations. The main objective is to provide a solid foundation for rights-based programming and one coordinating body, operational framework and monitoring and evaluation framework. The strategy focuses on four priority areas: prevention, service provision, research, documentation and advocacy as well as coordination.

Source: Loveness Jambaya, Gender and Media Southern Africa (GEMSA) Network

Mauritius: Developing a National Action Plan to End Gender Violence

Mauritius will become the fourth country in Southern Africa to embark on a process of developing a National Action Plan to End Gender Violence. Media Watch Organisation, with assistance from the Ministries of Women’s Rights, Social Security and Human Rights will convene a four-day workshop from 3 October.

The involvement of these Ministries is critical if a National Action Plan is to have meaning in Mauritius. The Ministry of Human Rights for example will be responsible for the drafting of legislation to address gender violence in the country. Key senior officials from the Ministries will be involved in the workshop to ensure implementation of the final action plan from the highest levels.

Source: Loga Virahsawmy, Media Watch Organisation À“ Gender and Media Southern Africa (GEMSA) Network Chapter, Mauritius

4. SOCIAL, ECONONOMIC AND POLITICAL FACTORS

Swazi women say no to polygamy

Swazi women are up in arms over provisions in the recently passed Swaziland constitution which makes provision for “marriage through customary rightsÀ and polygamy. Irin News reports that the women led by King Mswati’s eldest daughter, 18-year old Princess Sikhanyiso argue that the practice is unfair towards women and outdated.

Read the full article

Lesotho responds to increase in reported cases of sexual violence

Health workers in Lesotho have received training to provide specialised and improved services to survivors of sexual violence. The training was run by the Lesotho government and UNICEF and included how to provide post-exposure prophylaxis to survivors of sexual assault, the collection of forensic evidence to assist with the prosecution of cases amongst other issues. According to AfrolNews there has been a sharp increase in the number of reported rape cases in the country.

Read the full article

5. OPINION AND ANALYSIS

Women speak out on high costs of sanitary products

Miriam Madziwa

Feminine sanitary products are finding a new place on the agenda in Zimbabwe, as women join together to make their voices heard on how high costs are affecting their daily lives. A packet of 10 average quality pads cost about Zim $500 000, while a well-known brand of tampons averages $1 200 000. That’s 5 -12 percent of monthly wages for a worker in a textile industry earning an average $10 000 000 a month, and not much better for a teacher who takes home about $25 000 000.

Read the full story

Freedom of what? Protection from who?

Bobby van der Merwe

“It was a Sunday morning when we received the call. One you dread, but almost seems inevitable in South Africa À“ a friend’s flat was burgled and she had fended off a sexual assault…À This article relates one woman’s experience, exploring how this is just one example of a culture of disregard for her and other women’s rights and safety. It questions, “when officials who should be concerned with our nation’s safety tell those who complain about the crime and its repercussions to keep quiet and leave, how can we feel confident in our society’s progress?À

Read the full story