Gender-based violence and women's empowerment are enormous challenges in South Africa. President Cyril Ramaphosa's words in June 2020 illustrated the seriousness of the problem: 'As a country, we find ourselves in the midst of not one, but two, devastating epidemics ... At a time when [COVID-19] has left us all feeling vulnerable and uncertain, violence is being unleashed on women and children with a brutality that defies comprehension.'
Amid this national crisis of violence against women, South Africa in August adopted its long-awaited national plan to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325. This is the most important global policy on strengthening the role of women in peace and security situations.
...