Government fails to achieve GBV targets

AN ANALYSIS report conducted by the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) shows the government did poorly in implementing an emergency response action plan (ERAP) meant to target gender-based violence (GBV).

The commission undertook an assessment of the ERAP, first touted by President Cyril Ramaphosa in September 2019.

The plan was supposed to see various government departments undertake to make improvements in addressing GBV.

A six-month period was outlined for some of the key interventions, which included access to justice and interventions for women's empowerment.

The implementation period was set for October 2019 to April 2020. Some of the key departments that were mandated with implementation included the SAPS and social development.

The commission's report shows that out of 81 targets across five goals, only 17 targets (21.25%) were achieved within the six-month time frame. And another 12 targets were only partially achieved. The biggest surprise was that the majority of the 51 targets (63.75%) were not achieved within the period.

The report also highlighted that many government departments had cited the Covid-19 lockdown, which began in March 2020, as the reason for poor achievements.

The commission found this unusual, as the targeted six-month implementation was due to end just as the lockdown began.

“Many government departments that appeared to have failed to meet targets outlined in the ERAP, identified the Covid-19 lockdown as the reason for this failure. This was despite the lockdown occurring only after the six months of ERAP implementations had ended,” the report stated.

The CGE said the implementation of the plan “lacked the necessary preparation, coordination, effective oversight, and accountability”.

To correct the weakness in implementation and monitoring, CGE has recommended a review of the ERAP. It said the review should conducted by an independent service provider.

“It should identify key challenges, lessons learned, and prospects for the continued implementation of some of the main interventions and critical targets – including long-term time frames and the intended positive consequences in the fight against gender-based violence,” the report said.

The CGE has also recommended the establishment of a multistakeholder coordinating body on gender-based violence.

“It is further recommended that the necessary legislative process be initiated to ensure that such a multistakeholder body has the requisite legal standing and access to regular funding,” the commission said.

The CGE has also recommended that a gender-responsive budget framework, first introduced by the Department of Women, be widely distributed across government departments.

“It is further recommended that the National Treasury plays a leading role in ensuring that the framework is adopted and implemented.”

Last year, Ramaphosa had launched the Gender-Based Violence Femicide (GBVF) Fund, which was meant to give a targeted approach to dealing with GBV.

People Opposing Women Abuse (Powa), a GBV-focused organisation, said the GBVF Fund appeared good on paper, but NGOs had never been approached on the issue. Powa chief executive Mary Makgaba said the issue of strengthening efforts against GBV had to be improved.

“We appreciate the government's efforts, but the issue of declaring GBVF a national priority must be strengthened and improved. Currently, they are implementing a multisectoral approach for all government departments, to develop and implement programmes on GBV.

“The National Strategic Plan on GBVF is a success, but delay in implementation is a challenge,” she said.