Insights and recommendations 57 th CSW 2013: Elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls

CSW 57 INSIGHTS – MAKING LEGAL FRAMEWORKS WORK Principles and commitments have been secured in international law for leveraging state accountability with regard to VAWG (CEDAW; CRC; CRPD). Need to enforce states’ legal obligation, accountability and due diligence to implement prevention, protection and response measures. There is clear obligation on states to prevent GBV, and provide necessary responses, and emerging thinking on state reparation obligations. States to translate their legal commitments into national action plans, formulated on the strength of evidence-based implementation strategies; comprising coordinated, integrated response mechanisms; including collaboration and partnerships with civil society, with measures to include particular needs of vulnerable groups. Need to ensure impunity of perpetrators is addressed through justice responses - adequate structures, resources and mechanisms to ensure the reporting, investigation, prosecution and conviction of perpetrators. Need for reliable data and effective M&E systems

PREVENTION AT THE HEART OF INTERVENTIONS Laws are not enough – we need to change social norms and behaviour that normalise and permit VAWG Need to address root causes of GBV, namely gender inequality and power relations in our society and families Noting that system of patriarchy perpetuates VAWG, shifting social norms requires working with men and boys, to change attitudes and behaviour Important to work with communities and have vulnerable groups themselves design interventions to respond to VAWG and lead prevention interventions There is a critical need for women’s empowerment – and specifically economic empowerment measures, to prevent VAWG, and support victims of VAWG. Women’s economic empowerment is vital to ending GBV. Need for coordinated and integrated prevention measures, between state and civil society partners, in preventing harmful traditional practices. Media is often key in perpetuating – and transforming negative attitudes and stereotypes

RECOMMENDATIONS: INTERVENTIONS Ongoing monitoring: Of government implementation of CSW resolutions; of state NAP on GBV and 365 Day programme – including President’s “Stop Rape” school programme; support assessment and strengthening of plan, and state implementation capacity; initiate public hearings into sexual violence in schools; forthcoming visit of UN Special Rapporteur on GBV? Engagements with DWCPD : Call for statistics and data on VAWG in relation to age, ethnicity, geographic location, disability and income level, and linkages between GBV, HIV and AIDS; call for evidence-based data on GBV prevention measures that work; to ensure that training for GFPs includes gender mainstreaming, and VAWG with disabilities; to implement women’s economic empowerment programmes, to eradicate their vulnerability to GBV; monitor DWCPD country reports on the CRPD to ensure these surface VAWG with disabilities; to support the call for a joint session between CEDAW and CRPD; to take up findings from Parliament’s review of DVA implementation Engagements with DoJ&CD: Call for training of Criminal Justice personnel on GBV, drawing on CEDAW training programme Engagements with DSD: Call for DSD-initiated “speak out sessions” on GBV; follow up on IMC study on causes of GBV and engendering of school curriculum; to measure socio-economic cost of VAWG in SA; to develop a family guide on GBV

RECOMMENDATIONS: INTERVENTIONS (CONT.)  Engagements with SAPS : Call for report on supply of rape kits to police stations; review SAPS curriculum on DV and GBV;  Engagements with Education: Call for review teacher training curriculum on GBV and VAWG; call for inter-generational dialogues on GBV, in schools and tertiary institutions – linked with Boys and Girls Education Movements; assess gender education curriculum and materials;  Engagements with Health: Call on UNFPA for assistance in training health professionals to recognise and respond to VAWG  Engagements with Sports: Convene public hearing on gender transformation in sports;  SA govt generally: Call for data and reporting on abuse of girls under age of 18; country stand on reparation for victims of VAWG - test case on state compliance with international conventions and due diligence re: prevention; engagements with DIRCO on influencing post-2015 framework through a multi-stakeholder engagement;  International community: Initiate the coordination of African commissions dealing with gender equality, and engage with the AU to support this;

RECOMMENDATIONS: CAMPAIGNS  Early/forced childhood marriages – partnership interventions with religious and traditional leaders for awarenesss and norm-changing interventions; investigation into extent of practice through public hearings and assessment of state response; ensure and monitor prosecution in reported cases  Stigma associated with widows – surface harmful practices and denial of rights, and engage with traditional leaders on raising awareness and eradicating these  Addressing legislative gaps – Muslim marriages; hate crimes legislation; TIP; ukuthwala; Domestic Workers Act – and ratification of ILO Convention 189 on Decent work for Domestic Workers, and CEDAW resolution on domestic work; amendments to DVA preventing convicteds from returning to family home  50/50 campaign – mobilise for legislation on 50/50 quota system; engagements with political parties; building grassroots awareness and support  Prevention/awareness campaign – working with media on campaign to challenge perpetuation of gender inequality and stereotypes and shift mindsets

RECOMMENDATIONS: CAMPAIGNS (CONT.)  Working with men and boys – partner with Sonke Gender Justice – support campaign for policy to enforce state engagement with men and boys in GBV responses;  Muslim women’s equality – investigate situation of women in Muslim – an other faiths’ – marriages, to unearth level of abuse of rights and develop awareness and prevention campaign in response;  Ending sexual violence at work – partner with employers’ associations, DoL and trade unions for campaign on awareness on sexual harassment in the workplace, application of laws, reporting of cases and support responses;  Funding for gender equality – campaign for adequate funding for implementation of gender equality legislation, for prevention and response programmes, and effective functioning of designated courts (maintenance, sexual offences..).