Keynote address by Deputy Minister of Social Development, Dr Jean Swanson Jacobs at the opening of the Victim Empowerment Programme Conference, Inkosi Albert Luthuli Convention Centre, Durban

Programme Director
Representatives of the United Nations
Dignitaries of the diplomatic corps
MEC for Social Development, Dr Meshack Radebe
Mayor of the Ethekwini Metro, Mr Obed Mlaba
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee, Mr Mike Masutha
Director General, Mr Vusi Madonsela
Esteemed guests
Ladies and gentlemen

Today it is fitting that we meet here at the venue named after one of the greatest warriors of the struggle for freedom to emerge from this region. I am referring here to Inkosi Albert John Luthuli, who in 1952 was one of the leading lights behind the Defiance Campaign a non violent protest against the pass laws. This campaign culminated in the women's march to the hallowed grounds of the Union Buildings to protest against the extension of the pass laws to women.

How refreshing it is that today, as I cast my eyes around this conference hall, I note with great pride the number of women involved in community development and nation building initiatives.

We have come this far because we stand on the shoulders of great women pioneers who paved the way for all of us. I speak here of indomitable women such as Lillian Ngoyi, Bertha Gxowa, Ruth First, Ellen Khuzwayo, Amina Cachalia and many others.

We are also honoured to have with us the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) country representative, Dr Jonathan Lucas. We are happy to have you join us at this significant meeting. On behalf of the government of South Africa and more specifically the Department of Social Development, I would like to express our gratitude to the European Commission and the UNODC for the unwavering support throughout the years.

We are gathered here today, as representatives of our respective sectors, to affirm our commitment to the protection and promotion of the rights of victims of crime and violence. This requires the involvement of government and other sectors, such as faith based organisations, community based organisations, business sector, and labour, donor and development agencies.

We have therefore felt it prudent to convene this dialogue so that we can share not only the successes of our programme, but the failures as well, so that we can gain from the wisdom of those involved in dealing with these challenges.

This conference comes at the same month as we mark the 52nd anniversary of that historic march. Coincidentally, this year marks the 10th anniversary of the Victim Empowerment Programme. Launched in August 1998 under the pillar of the National Crime Prevention Strategy, the aim of the programme is to promote a victim centred approach to crime prevention.

It is therefore appropriate that at the same time as we reflect on the progress we have made in addressing the issues of women, that we also take stock of our progress in this area. There can be no emancipation for women for as long as they continue to be victims of domestic violence and crime.

Granted, our criminal justice system is not perfect, as the Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development said this week. However, despite the imperfections, a lot of good work has been done by many committed individuals, to minimize the pain and suffering caused by crime.
Through the Victim Empowerment Programme (VEP), the DSD has scored several achievements. These include the establishment of 89 shelters to cater for abused women in the country. In 2001 there were only 39 shelters which were mostly operated by civil society organisations.

We have established shelters in all provinces and we are finalising the appointment of provincial co-ordinators. I am informed that in this province alone, there are 13 shelters for victims of crime and violence. There are various other achievements by government and civil society as a whole, through partnerships.

Ladies and gentlemen, in preparation for the conference, the planning team resolved to bring to the fore the voices of the stakeholders in the VEP field. This commitment was based on the reality that civil society organisations are in the forefront of providing services to victims of crime and abuse.

It is with this in mind and in order to ensure that our strategic direction is informed by your experience on the ground that we organised a two day stakeholder summit attended by 200 delegates from all over the country from 19 to 20 June in Ekurhuleni. This is also in recognition of the fact that we cannot achieve the objectives of the programme through government actions alone.

The summit was characterised by vigorous exchange of ideas and open discussions. A number of key issues emerged from the summit and deserve a mention.

Partnerships

The summit raised concerns regarding the business sector support for initiatives related to VEP. As I mentioned earlier, we need the support of all sectors of society to complement government action.

The view that fighting crime is everyone's responsibility was also echoed by children who attended the seminar on crime and violence organised by Khulisa Crime Prevention Initiative and UNISA. As a department we welcome the launch of the National Shelter Movement of South Africa and we look forward to a successful partnership.

Shelters for victims of domestic violence
The shortage of personnel which results in the lack of professional services in many of the shelters was identified as a major challenge. We need to pay particular attention to this aspect so we can obviate secondary victimisation.

The results of the recent survey conducted by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) indicate that a large percentage of personnel need proper training to deal with intermediary services for child victims of sexual offences. I was highly disturbed by recent media reports about the plight of a 15 year victim of sexual abuse.

This clearly indicates that we need to strengthen the provision of counselling services to victims and their families. In addition we need to ensure that we increase the number of police stations with victim friendly rooms and augment the capacity of forensic health services.

You will agree with me that all these factors are essential elements of the victim support programme and critical for successful prosecution of offenders. Of significance is to ensure that the personnel are adequately trained to provide psychosocial support services to victims and their families.

To make provision for victims with special needs such as children and people with disabilities, we have commenced with the process to review the shelter strategy in line with the Victims Charter.

Generally speaking, VEP services are under funded. Civil society organisations voiced their concern about the unpredictability of government funding and called for a more innovative resource mobilisation strategy. As I mentioned earlier, the nature and level of violence in our society can never be the responsibility of government alone.

In this regard, I reiterate our appreciation to the European Union and UNODC for their support and call on local business sector to emulate UNODC and partner with government and civil society organisations to ensure the provision of adequate resources for the programme.

Without necessary resources, most organisations struggle to provide much needed services to victims of violence and abuse. I therefore agree with the deliberations of the summit that sustainability is not just about funding, but entails other critical issues such as capacity building as well. Accordingly, one pillar in our partnership with the European Union and UNODC is capacity building and mentoring of emerging community based organisations.

We also have an innovative approach in South Africa through which proceeds from crime are confiscated from criminals and used to fight crime and alleviate suffering. A case in point is the Criminal Assets Recovery Account from the National Prosecuting Authority.

The NPA made available R3,3 million for which has been used to build shelters and for the campaign to engage men and boys to combat and prevent violence against women.

Ladies and gentlemen, you will agree with me that all these issues are prerequisite to ensure the provision of adequate and responsive services to victims of crime and violence.

To deal comprehensively with the endemic violence and crime in our society, we must strengthen prevention programmes and build effective partnerships with communities. Our collective challenge, as parents and leaders is to instil attitudes that are respectful of women and girls as equals, especially in boys from the earliest possible age.

We need to emulate the actions of organisations such as the South African Men's Forum, who declared that they cannot accept to be bystanders as long as women and children of this country continue to suffer.

The women of 1956 marched against apartheid oppression. Today, we are witnessing the emergence of another type of oppression that is equally repressive the use of violence against women and children. Let me assure you that government is committed to ensuring a better life for all free from any form of violence.

To this effect, government has prioritised combating crimes against women, such as domestic violence, rape, assault and child abuse by introducing programmes through the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster Departments.

The prevention of violence against vulnerable groups such as women, children, people with disabilities and older persons, is one of our priorities. As the lead department for government's victim empowerment programme, the department is working together with other departments notably, the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, the National Prosecuting Authority, Department Education, Department of Correctional Services, Department of Health and South African Police Services (SAPS).

I hope the conference will spend a considerable amount of time on practical strategies to implement the policy framework, strategy for shelters as well as the minimum standards for service delivery in victim programme. The mention of these three is an indication that we do not need to reinvent the wheel by developing new policies and legislation, but actions to implement them.

Currently, a study is underway to determine the extent of domestic violence in the country. The information will enable us to specifically target areas identified as hotspots and to refine our strategic interventions in relations to specific problems in those areas.

We will also finalise the strategy on the engagement of men and boys in the prevention of gender based violence programmes in the current financial year. Central to our intervention programmes is the need to equip the shelters for victims of violence and crime with resources and increase their coverage, especially in rural areas. It is encouraging to note that provinces like North West have launched the provincial plan of action to expedite implementation of the victims charter.

It is my firm belief that we need to entrench the campaign on No Violence against Women and Children in all our programmes and not in isolation. We cannot continue talking of violence against women and children and ignore its associations with HIV and AIDS as well as substance abuse.

The recent crime statistics released by SAPS illustrate correlation between substance abuse and the incidence of domestic violence I therefore urge provinces to ensure that VEP management forums function and liaise with other structures to ensure effective co-ordination.

The celebration of the 10th anniversary of the victim empowerment programme in the same month we remember the heroines of our struggle is a poignant reminder that much more still need to be done to realise the emancipation of women. I thank all of you for attendance, and wish you fruitful deliberations that will contribute to improving the lives of individual and families affected by violence and crime.

Thank you.