This structure, now known as End GBVF Collective , was intended to fill the gap while the anticipated council legislation was finalised. Various individuals, organisations, trade unionists, government departments, business people, and others working in the GBVF sector have been volunteering their time to strengthen the sector through mutual cooperation, set targets, and begin to establish the foundation necessary to effectively combat the GBVF epidemic. End GBVF Collective has over the past two years experimented with various ways of working, in an effort to create an environment in which civil society organisations can meaningfully participate in the NSP on GBVF implementation by providing much-needed support in a way of sharing knowledge, skills, and experience gained by dealing with victims and survivors of GBV and the families of femicide victims on a daily basis. Currently, End GBVF Collective hosts a monthly meeting that serves as an information session regarding workstreams formed through collaboration, and a platform for multi-sectoral engagement on issues pertinent to the sector. Pillar Forums meet every month and define their own activities based on their interest in the six Pillars, namely:
The Maputo Protocol is a crucial instrument in addressing gender-based violence, promoting gender equality, protecting the rights of women and children, and recognising the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community in Africa. It serves as a guideline for African Union member states to develop laws, policies, and programmes that safeguard and advance the rights and well- being of these marginalised groups. South Africa, a member state of the AU has recognised that gender-based violence is a serious issue, declaring it an official national crisis in 2019. This should not only highlight the plight but also serve as an indication of how seriously the South African Government has taken the GBVF agenda. Guided by the Maputo Protocol, South Africa has made significant strides in addressing human rights violations by implementing various initiatives to combat them. Recognising that government alone could not solve this multi- faceted societal problem, it necessitated cooperation between multiple sectors including civil society and development partners in the development of a strategic framework, the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NSP on GBVF), that serves as a common guiding document, and spells out a united agenda and goals to enable collaboration across sectors and interest groups. National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide and End GBVF Collective www.gbvf.org.za In 2020, South Africa launched the NSP on GBVF. This comprehensive plan outlines strategies to prevent and respond to gender- based violence, improve support services for survivors, and strengthen the criminal justice system's ability to deal with such cases. In the absence of the GBVF Council envisioned in the NSP on GBVF, DWYPD supported by UN Women and other international development agencies created a multi- sectoral collaborative platform that brought together stakeholders across sectors to think and plan how to approach NSP on GBVF implementation together.
Accountability, coordination, and
1.
leadership
Prevention and rebuilding social cohesion 2.
Justice, safety, and protection 3.
Response, care, support, and healing 4.
Economic power
5.
Research and information management 6.
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June 2023 | Collective Action Magazine
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