PROGRESS REPORT: THE IMPEMENTATION OF THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACT, 1998 PRESENTED TO THE PORTFOLIO AND SELECT COMMITTEE ON WOMEN, CHILDREN AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES DATE: 7 th MARCH 2012 CAPE TOWN 12/5/2015 1

Presentation Outline Introduction  The Role of the Department of Health  Responses to questions raised by the Committee  Psychosocial Support:  Databases  Training 12/5/2015 2

Responses to questions raised by the Committee continued….  Progress to Date  Challenges  Way forward 12/5/2015 3

Introduction On 28 th November 2011 the Portfolio and Select Committee on Women, Children and People with Disabilities (Committee) as part of its follow-up mechanism on the implementation of the Domestic Violence Act (DVA), requested the Department of Health to respond to specific questions relating to psycho-social support, data-bases and training. On the 18 th January 2012 the Committee requested the department to with reference to its previous request for information, provide a holistic presentation on the progress made regarding the implementation of the DVA. 12/5/2015 4

Introduction Continued.. ● In the light of the above this report seeks to provide a holistic view of the department’s role in the implementation of the DVA in general and to respond to the specific questions raised by the Committee in particular. 12/5/2015 5

The Role of the Department of Health South Africa currently faces a quadruple Burden of Disease (BoD) consisting of:  HIV and AIDS and TB;  High Maternal and Child Mortality;  Non-Communicable Diseases and  Violence and Injuries. 12/5/2015 6

The Role of the Department of Health In 2007, South Africa had only 0.7% of the world’s population,  but accounted for 17% (about 5.5 million people) of the global burden of HIV infections (The Lancet, August 2009). 12/5/2015 7

The Role of the Department Cont… Life expectancy in South Africa is adversely affected by communicable diseases such as:  HIV, TB, Malaria, Respiratory Infections and Diarrheal Diseases;  High Maternal and Child Mortality;  Increasing levels of non-communicable diseases, which contributed to 28% of the total burden of disease.  Violence and Trauma related injuries  In this context, Domestic Violence falls under Violence and Trauma and is mainly experienced as a form of Gender-Based Violence (GBV). 12/5/2015 8

The Role of the Department Cont… Acts of Domestic Violence includes amongst others :  Physical abuse (including sexual assault), and in this regard the Department’s view is that Victims/Survivor’s needs in post-rape and sexual assault care are paramount.  These include:  Identification/recognition of sexual abuse in adults & children;  care for physical injuries;  immediate and longer term psychological support;  pregnancy prevention;  prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STI), hepatitis and tetanus;  HIV counseling and prevention; protection from possible ongoing abuse and assistance with the social impact. 12/5/2015 9

RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS RAISED BY THE COMMITTEE 12/5/

1. QUESTIONS ON PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT Is there a recruitment strategy that is established to increase the team of skilled personnel to Domestic Violence? Has the department identified the recruitment strategy to increase the team of skilled personnel, eg, Bursaries for Psychologists, Occupational Therapists etc? How many perpetrators of domestic violence have received psychosocial services from the department in the period September 2010 to September 2011? 12/5/

RESPONSE The Department of Health developed the Human Resource for the Health Sector (2012/2013 to 2016/2017) that seeks to, amongst others identify the skills gaps and suggests interventions to address the gaps. The HR Strategy identifies shortages of health professionals and of note is that the psychologists and Occupational Therapists are not on the list. This indicates therefore, that the health sector does not have shortages in these fields.. 12/5/

RESPONSE…. This does not however suggest that the department is no longer recruiting these health professionals as figures show that for the period Sept 2010-Sept 2011, a total of 237 Clinical Psychologists and 489 Occupational Therapists were placed on Community Services Bursaries are issued by provinces to students pursuing studies in the health field including psychology and Occupational Therapy. With regards to perpetrators of Domestic Violence the department mainly deals with cases of court referrals for mental observations as well as cases of state patients. The Department of Correctional Services is responsible for perpetrators of domestic violence. 12/5/

2.QUESTION OF DATABASE The public hearings revealed a need for effective databases within and across government departments. To what extend is the department collaborating with other departments such as the SAPS to ensure that databases are kept up to date, and to ensure that cases are tracked and well documented? – this is specifically relevant in recurring Domestic Violence cases. 12/5/

RESPONSE The Department of Health is a member of the Victims Empowerment Management Team which comprises of:  Department of Social Development,  South African Police Service,  Department of Health,  Department of Correctional Service,  Department of Basic Education,  National Prosecuting Authority and  Department of Justice and Constitutional Development. 12/5/

RESPONSE ….  The integrated data base for Victims of Crime and Violence sanctioned by the Victim Empowerment Program in the department of Social Development has been piloted in a number of health, police, correctional facilities and Shelters that manage victims of violence.  The objective of the integrated data base is to have one system that is accessible to all departments that manages victims of violence. 12/5/

3.QUESTIONS ON TRAINING In the period September 2010, how many officials were trained in Domestic Violence in Domestic Violence. What has been done to adequately train officials attending to victims regarding parting information to victims about referrals to safe homes? To what extend is the department collaborating with other departments such as the SAPS to ensure that databases are kept up to date, and to ensure that cases are tracked and well documented? – this is specifically relevant in recurring Domestic Violence cases. 12/5/

RESPONSE ON TRAINING Management of sexual Assault trainings conducted: 12/5/ DateProvince Number of health officials trained Sept 2010 Northern Cape22 Oct 2010 Limpopo36 Nov 2010 Free State40 Dec 2010 Kwa-Zulu Natal46 Feb 2011 Western Cape10 Mar 2011 Gauteng30 Aug 2011 Free State36 Sept 2011 North West15

RESPONSE ON TRAINING Integrated training on management of Victims of sexual Assault 12/5/ DateProvinceNo trained August 2011NW-Klerksdorp22 Sept 2011NW- Potchefstroom37

4.QUESTIONS ON REFERRALS & FOLLOW-UP What has been done to adequately train officials attending to victims regarding imparting information to victims about referrals to safe homes, and information on follow-up treatment where necessary? 12/5/

RESPONSE ON REFERRALS & FOLLOW-UPS The Department developed a comprehensive curriculum that covers all aspects of management of victim; e.g.  Counseling;  Medical treatment;  Collection of forensic evidence;  Follow-ups on PEP  Referrals to other service providers 12/5/

RESPONSE ON REFERRALS & FOLLOW-UPS …. The Department conducts reviews to all provinces to monitor and evaluate the progress of the PEP programme 12/5/

PEP REVIEWS CONDUCTED PROVINCEDATE OF REVIEW Eastern Cape5-6 September 2011 Free State8-9 September 2011 Gauteng19-20 September 2011 Kwa-Zulu Natal12-13 September 2011 Limpopo15-16 September 2011 Mpumalanga22-23 September 2011 Northern Cape26-27 September 2011 North West8-9 September 2011 Western Cape19-20 September /5/

5. QUESTION TO DEPARTMENT COLLABORATION To what extent the Department collaborate with other department such as the SAPS to ensure that data bases are kept up to date and to ensure that cases are tracked and documented? This is specifically relevant to recurring domestic violence 12/5/

RESPONSE TO COLLABORATIONS The Department is a member collaborate with the following interdepartmental teams:  Victim empowerment Management Team (VEP) for empowerment of victims of violence and Victims Data base management.  Inter-Departmental Management Team (IDMT) for management of victims of Sexual Assault  Inter Departmental Committee (IDC) for the Victim Rights Charter. 12/5/

THANK YOU 12/5/