Presidential Summit on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide
B Marekwa
The second Presidential Summit on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide was convened at Gallagher Estate in Midrand on the 1st November 2022.
Under the theme: “Accountability. Acceleration and Amplification, NOW!”, the Summit reflected on the work undertaken since the first Presidential Summit on GBVF in November 2018, report on key successes and challenges, and outline clear strategies to overcome them.
The summit provided an opportunity for feedback and accountability for issues raised in the last summit and an assessment of the impact of programmes and how to amplify programmes that are making a difference. It also offered a platform to measure the impact against expenditure and to prioritise and duplicate programmes that are yielding tangible results.
It also created a space for delegates to pose some of their questions to a panel of Ministers responsible for the various portfolios. There was an outpouring of emotion as well as a number of hard truths directed at the Accountability panel.
President Ramaphosa in his address to the Summit acknowledged that given the demand for services to address the many different aspects of the fight against GBV, the funds currently available are inadequate. He committed to ensuring that resources will be directed to where there is the greatest need and where they have the greatest impact.
We call on all stakeholders to intensify media coverage and exposure of GBV activities, accelerate campaigns and awareness and hold responsible people accountable.
