South Africa Decided to end violence against women too

South Africa has become one of the first countries to sign a commitment pledge with the United Nations to end violence against women and girls.

The pledge, which was signed by President Jacob Zuma and delivered to the UN by Women, Children and Persons living with disabilities Minister Lulu Xingwana in New York, commits South Africa to due diligence on the full implementation of laws and strategies to combat violence against women and girls.

It began with a commitment from President Zuma during the UN General Assembly last year with the Executive Director of UN-Women Michelle Bachelet accepting South Africa's pledge.

Xingwana says: “It is going to translate in ensuring that we, the leadership level, there is clear direction and guidance from the presidency to government ministers, to NGOs and communities. It is quite clear that once the president is at the lead then the country has to move in ensuring that we fight (and) eliminate all forms of violence against women and children.”

Xingwana says this commitment reaffirms, at an international level, what the government is collectively trying to achieve on the ground in South Africa.

South Africa, where it is believed that a woman is raped every four minutes, ranks number one in the world for reported rapes out of 120 Interpol member countries
“What gives me confidence is the way the world regards our commitment and takes that commitment seriously. I think also the fact that the president himself has made this commitment, clearly shows that there is political will to fight this scourge, using all the resources at our (disposal) -  ensuring all the departments of government, all NGOs are going to be at the forefront of the war against gender based violence.”

Xingwana and a duo of deputy ministers is leading a South African delegation into the second week of Commission on the Status of Women. The Minister says there continues to be bones of contention among member states.

“On the outcome document, we are moving. I think there a few difficult areas on reproductive rights and health rights for women and girls. I hope we are going to reach consensus. We have difficulties on sexual orientation and gender identities but SA is pushing ahead to ensure these also in the agreed conclusions and in the language of the document.”

South Africa, where it is believed that a woman is raped every four minutes, ranks number one in the world for reported rapes out of 120 Interpol member countries.