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100 days to make a difference: SA’s bold move against GBVF
'100 Days to Combat GBVF' is a South African initiative worth watching. Here's 2022's progress, and what to expect in 2023.
Human rights activists march against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), on 19 March 2021. Photo: The Citizen/Michel Bega
The teams and volunteers behind South Africa’s ‘End GBVF 100-Day Challenges’ recently highlighted some of their victories in the fight against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).
They noted a “staggering reduction” in the backlog for domestic violence protection orders, as well as a surge in reporting rape cases.
Fight against GBVF in SA
These volunteers tackled the grim reality of GBVF in their communities head-on, marking an encouraging start to the collective’s initiative.
Seven courageous teams undertook this challenge in 2022, each aspiring to make a substantial difference within the 100-day timeframe.
A challenge worth taking
The momentum continues in 2023, with the End GBVF Collective aiming to extend its reach to 45 courts and municipalities across South Africa.
The agenda covers a broad spectrum of issues tied to GBVF, while participating teams will work to expedite the resolution of GBVF-related court cases.
The focus will also be implementing GBV prevention strategies in schools and places of employment, and on post-crisis support and care protocols for survivors.
Success breeds success
Sixolile Ngcobo from the End GBVF Collective said the 100-day challenges was piloted in 2022, and the group noted “some remarkable outcomes” since then.
This includes an “unprecedented level of collaboration among the participating organisations,” Ngcobo says.
“The success of last year has inspired us to scale the 100-Day Challenges on a regional and local level for 2023.”
Reduction in backlog, increase in reporting
Last year’s results indeed painted an inspiring picture.
In Matjhabeng, in the Free State, the referral of new GBV cases saw an impressive 262% increase.
This means a whopping 1 092 survivors received psychosocial services, in just one month.
Similarly, Mangaung saw an 82% reduction in the backlog of maintenance cases, with the finalisation rate jumping from 50% to 74%.
Looking ahead
The 100-Day Challenges are a powerful tool for implementing the National Strategic Plan (NSP) on GBVF.
This year, the End GBVF Collective will be supported by the Ford Foundation, the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), and the justice sector.
The goal for this year is to organise 40 to 45 challenges across South Africa, followed by 270 planned projects in 2024, and 630 projects in 2025.
Ngcobo concludes with a call to action, encouraging municipal leaders, prosecutors, and judges to seize this opportunity.
“Please bring this opportunity to the rest of your leadership team and encourage them to apply.”
Economic empowerment
Back in March, President Cyril Ramaphosa commemorated International Women’s Day by saying the economic empowerment of women “is an important pillar of our struggle to end gender-based violence and femicide”.
He said South Africa must shift economic power into the hands of women through “earmarking 40% of all public procurement for women-owned businesses”.
“To achieve this, government has been providing training to women entrepreneurs so they can tender for government work and successfully provide the goods and service that government needs.”
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