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The Portfolio Committee on Women, Children and People with Disabilities calls on all South Africans to mark this year’s 16 days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children campaign as the beginning of a year-long campaign aimed at ensuring that South Africa is free of violence against women and children.
 
While the Committee is aware of the positive impact that the 16 days campaign has made in highlighting violence against women and children, a year-long commitment to this fight is essential in eliminating the scourge of child and woman abuse. “All South Africans must commit to ensuring that women and children are treated with the utmost respect and that any violence perpetrated against them is reported to authorities. Violence against women and children is a societal issue which needs societal activism if it is to be defeated,” said Chairperson of the Committee, Mrs Dorothy Ramodibe.  
 
The commemoration of this year’s campaign comes at a time when the country has recorded a sharp increase in rape cases perpetrated against elderly women and children. The Committee is of the view that while any form of rape is highly unacceptable; it is even more repugnant when it is inflicted on children and senior citizens. In addition, the Committee is also concerned about increased incidents of gender-based violence against lesbians and persons with disabilities, particularly children.
 
The Committee is encouraged by the recent crime statistics by the South African Police Service which has recorded a 3.7 % decline in reported sexual offences cases. This decrease is commendable, but the Committee remains concerned by the high number of unreported cases. The Committee urges all women and children that have been violated to report these cases so that the law might take its course, and ensure that they receive appropriate professional help.
 
The Committee would like to commend the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security cluster for a number of recent court judgements that have shown that the perpetrators of these horrendous crimes against women are not left unpunished. The continuation of the good work that has been done of successfully prosecuting perpetrators of violence against women and children will go a long way in dissuading people from committing such crimes.
 
Woman empowerment will be high on the agenda of Parliament following the approval by Cabinet of the Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality Bill. As the Committee interrogates the Bill, it will do so with the intention of producing a legislation that will enable government to fast track women empowerment and ensure that women no longer bear the face of poverty and inequality which make them vulnerable to violence.  
 
The Committee remains committed to the fight against woman and child abuse.