25 October 1999
The Department of Justice and the Canadian High Commission to South Africa today signed a cooperation agreement aimed at expanding the number of existing courts dealing with victims of rape and sexual violence.
The agreement was signed by the Deputy Minister of Justice, Ms Cheryl Gillwald and the Canadian High Commissioner, Mrs Lucie Edwards. Twenty new courts specially designed to process cases involving victims of rape and sexual violence will be established nationally. The extension of the project is the result of the success of the first two courts of this kind established in Wynberg and Bloemfontein.
The Canadian government, through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), will donate assistance to the value of R1 million over the next year. The assistance will take the form of training workshops for the 400 personnel involved in the new courts, training manuals, public information booklets and pamphlets, financial support for the services of a technical expert and computer equipment to establish a data base on sexual violence and rape cases.
The South African and Canadian governments have been cooperating in the justice area since 1996 and this has resulted in assistance from the Canadian government to the value of more than R20 million. Canada has a long involvement in promoting human rights in South Africa and has a special interest in supporting the democratic system in South Africa by reforming the criminal justice system.
The first of the new courts will start operating early next year.
The project will not only sensitise the administration of justice towards victims of sexual crimes, but will serve as a more effective way in dealing with the perpetrators and informing the public of their rights: that everyone deserves the opportunity to grow as a human being and be treated with dignity and respect.
Issued by The Chief Directorate: Communication Services of the Department of Justice and the Canadian High Commission to South Africa
25 October 1999
Pretoria Enquiries:
Heinrich Augustyn (Justice) Tel: (012) 315 1723 Fax: (012) 321 8291
E-Mail Haugustyn@Justice.Gov.Za
Lizette Van Niekerk (Canadian High Commission) Tel: (012) 422 3086 Fax: (012) 422 3052 E-Mail: Lizette.Vanniekerk@Pret01.X400.Gc.Ca