In response to the debate in Parliament on gender-based violence (GBV) yesterday as well as the protest outside the building, Shenilla Mohamed, Executive Director of Amnesty International South Africa, said:
“Amnesty International South Africa agrees that additional debates and speeches on GBV are not changing anything. Only urgent, decisive and concrete action will bring the crucial change needed to stop South Africa’s war on women and girls.
The government must increase its efforts in ensuring that the rights of women and girls are protected and upheld, and that violations of these rights are documented and dealt with in a timely manner by the justice system. It must also fulfil its promise to introduce and implement legislation on GBV without any further delays.
South Africa cannot allow increased surges of femicides to continue, only for silence to follow. It must end now. The government must tackle GBV with the same zeal and coordinated effort as they demonstrated with COVID-19.
It is time to smash the silence. Not just government silence but societal silence too. Each and every one of us must ring the bell on abuse, interrupt abusers and refuse to stand back and allow this shadow pandemic of violence to continue.”
Background
South Africa has seen an increased number of reported cases of femicide since the start of June 2020, resulting in renewed calls for justice for victims and survivors of gender-based violence and femicide in the country.
Tell the government of South Africa to increase its efforts to protect women and girls. Now and always.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REQUEST AN INTERVIEW, PLEASE CONTACT:
Mienke Steytler, Media and Digital Content Officer, Amnesty International South Africa: +27 (0)64 890 9224; mienke.steytler@amnesty.org.za
