Not for profit organisation Amnesty International South Africa has asked for government to take decisive action against gender-based violence (GBV) and fulfil its promise to introduce and implement legislation without further delays.

In a statement on Wednesday, following a debate in Parliament on gender-based violence, the organisation’s executive director Shenilla Mohamed said it is time for government to stop inaction and silence on the matter.

During lockdown, South Africa has seen an increase in gender-based violence cases.

“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,” said Mohamed.

The organisation also calls for government to increase efforts in ensuring that female rights are protected and upheld, ​and that violations are documented and dealt with timeously by the justice system.

“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,” said Amnesty International.

It also calls for the society to end silence and call out abuse and abusers.