The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) presented its submission on the National Gender Based Violence (GBV) and Femicide Bill to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities.  COSATU supports the Bill and its envisaged Council as a necessary step in the fight against the pandemic of GBV and femicide that has become shamefully synonymous with South Africa.

The Bill will establish the National GBV and Femicide Council to oversee government’s response, across departments and spheres of government, to this national crisis.  It will include leadership of government, civil society and organised labour.  Whilst this Bill and the Council will not be a magic wand, it can be a useful focal point for government and society to hold the state accountable for what it is doing to turn the tide and to galvanise society to play its role as government on its own cannot win this battle.

Whilst COSATU supports this Bill and any effort to tackle this national scourge, it will only be effective if the relevant organs of state, e.g. the police, courts, hospitals etc are adequately resourced, if we enforce the rule of law with the necessary political will and if ordinary citizens play their bit and report those who abuse our daughters, sisters, wives and mothers.

We cannot be proud of our progress as a nation with the ever-rising numbers of women and girls, members of the LGBTQIA plus communities and other vulnerable persons, subjected to the most horrific crimes at home, in their communities, at schools and universities, and their workplaces. 

Issued by COSATU

For further information please contact:
Matthew Parks
Parliamentary Coordinator
Cell: 082 785 0687
Email: matthew@cosatu.org.za