South Africa: The Free State Provincial Government led the provincial summit on Gender Based Violence and Femicide in Bloemfontein earlier today.
The two day summit, which will conclude on Thursday, 06 October, brought different stakeholders under one roof to find ways to put an end to violence against women and other vulnerable groups such as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual and more.
“Our country is plagued by a pandemic called Gender Based Violence and Femicide. Statistics make for terrible reading. A total of 150 young girls, aged between 10 and 14, have given birth in the Free State in the past five months. A little over 14 000 teenagers, aged between 15 – 19, gave birth in the past year” Premier Sisi Ntombela.
More than 2000 pregnancy terminations were recorded for those aged between 10 and 19.
“Week in and out, at worse, we learn of the physical abuse that women are subjected to. At worst, the poor woman is murdered. In this day and age, we still have what’s normally referred to as ‘corrective rape.’ While we appreciate the importance of today’s gathering, I find it most unfortunate,” added the Premier.
In January President of South Africa “Cyril Ramaphosa” signed three new laws in favour of women’s. Law was related to the Criminal matters Amendment Act, the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act and the Domestic Violence Amendment Act.
However, Crime against women are still on the same pace, and the problem of teenage pregnancy is increasing rather than decreasing after the new laws by Ramaphosa were imposed.
Not only the country imposed new laws but also held various campaigns in which they repeatedly talked about the effects of early or teenage pregnancy, rape on women, and domestic violence.
The motive of the Ramaphosa was to ensure to empower the criminal justice system, promote accountability across the state and make efforts for the people who suffered at the centre of all our efforts.”
