By Phenyo Selinda
Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, has renewed the call for all South Africans to support the fight against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF). Highlighting the severe impact of GBVF, especially those perpetrated by intimate partners and family members, Chikunga emphasised the necessity of moving beyond mere slogans and investing adequate resources to tackle this pervasive issue.
The Urgent Need for Action
In her recent address, Chikunga highlighted the urgent need for a comprehensive response to the GBVF pandemic, which continues to plague society. “There is an urgent need to invest adequate resources to respond to the GBVF pandemic and all forms of discrimination by the whole of society and the government,” she stated.
Staggering Global Statistics
The severity of GBVF is underscored by global statistics. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) 2020 report, “Killings of Women and Girls by Their Intimate Partner or Other Family Members – Global Estimates,” a woman or girl is killed by someone in her own family every 11 minutes. Additionally, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that one in three women worldwide has experienced physical or sexual violence, and one in five women with at least one partner has faced violence from an intimate partner.
Persistent Challenges Despite Advocacy
Chikunga pointed out that despite significant advocacy and policy efforts, Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) remains one of the most common forms of violence against women and girls. “Recent studies affirm that despite decades of activism, advocacy, and action by state and non-state actors, the available evidence shows that progress in stopping IPV and related violence has been deeply inadequate,” she noted.
Government’s Commitment and Acknowledgment of Shortcomings
While the government has prioritised the fight against GBVF, Chikunga acknowledged that the situation for women and girls in South Africa remains dire. “As we begin the seventh Administration, our message has to be clear when it comes to the fight against GBVF; the master’s tools will not destroy the master’s house. We need new tools, and we need them urgently,” she asserted.
Call for Systemic and Structural Change
Chikunga stressed the importance of recognising and addressing the systemic and structural nature of discrimination and violence against women and girls. She called for all societal values and practices, across educational, religious, cultural, sporting, and creative environments, to be questioned and repurposed to combat patriarchal chauvinism. “We can no longer tinker on the edges and expect systemic results,” she said.
Enforcing Gender Equality
The Minister reiterated her department’s commitment to enforcing gender equality throughout government and society as a constitutional imperative. “Women have been and continue to be the basic foundation of all human civilisation, and yet we wake up every day and petition a man for the right to survive until the end of the day,” Chikunga remarked.
Community Involvement and Intelligence
Chikunga called for increased community involvement in the fight against GBVF. She urged researchers, scholars, advocates, and activists to go beyond mainstream narratives and gather detailed information from communities facing violence at a local level. “We need community intelligence to ensure that justice is served,” she emphasized.
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