1. HON. Members, our statistics of one in every five women being physically abused by her intimate partner and every six hours, a woman being killed by her current or former intimate partner, is concerning.
2. Intimate partner violence, triggered by many factors; mainly by alcohol use and abuse, is a serious matter in South Africa. Local and international research shows that it is the most common form of abuse experienced by women and these statistics are shocking.
3. HON. Members, Statistics SA’s 2016 Demographic and Health Survey categorises the percentages and ages of women who have experienced violence, both sexual and physical. This is very distressing information.
4. Ongoing violence against women has prompted civil society to make regular calls to government to initiate action to address multiple and intersecting forms of violence against women and girls. Despite reassurances from senior government officials to address this issue as a national priority, civil society requires clear and unequivocal action to advance women’s rights and to end violence against women and all forms of discrimination.
5. This scourge of women and girl violence is, HON. Members, a two-fold process which also requires the participation of women, girls and men in general.
6. The KAB Model is useful in this regard, as it creates an awareness that men’s violence against women is prevalent and serious. Knowledge and understanding of causes of men’s violence against women and the Knowledge and understanding of the multiple systems of oppression (referred to as intersectionality), which lead to violence must be understood.
7. HON. Members, we have to change the Attitudes that condone men’s violence against women and also change the attitudes that expect people to uphold rigid gender stereotypes. We have to challenge these attitudes and promote non-violent Behaviour that perpetuates violence against women.
8. These can be done by focusing on strategies that encompass primary, secondary and tertiary prevention, with much greater interest in what works at the primary prevention level focus on women’s self-protective behaviour. Hon. Members, we have to focus on engaging men and boys to prevent perpetuation of violence against women.
9. In the ancient Vedic culture, women were exalted and venerated and were held in high regard for their qualities. ‘Sthree’ meaning women and ‘Dharma’ meaning duty; was a system of high regard for women where they were given respect, freedom, protection and safety.
10. HON. Members, we need to emulate this system and work together in affording our women protection against all forms of violence.

Thank you.

Shameen Thakur-Rajbansi

Minority Front Leader (KZN Legislature)