The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) applauds government’s promulgation into law of the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Act. The Federation supports this bold Act and its envisaged Council as a necessary step in the fight against the pandemic of GBV and femicide.
The Act establishes the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide 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 Act and the Council are not be a magic wand, they will be an important focal point for the Executive and society to hold the state accountable for what it is doing to turn the tide and to mobilise society to play its role as government on its own cannot win this battle.
COSATU commends government led by President Ramaphosa and the African National Congress’ efforts to overhaul our criminal and other legislation to affirm the rights of and protections for women, girls and other vulnerable persons.
For this progressive Act and any effort to tackle this national tragedy, to be effective, government needs to ensure the relevant organs of state, e.g. the police, courts, hospitals, schools amongst others are adequately resourced and trained, that the state enforces the rule of law with the necessary will and if ordinary citizens play their role and report those who abuse our women, girls and other vulnerable persons.
We cannot be proud of our progress as a nation with the high 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, on public transport and their workplaces.
Issued by COSATU
Matthew Parks(COSATU Parliamentary Coordinator)
Cell: 082 785 0687
Email: matthew@cosatu.org.za