The Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services today adopted two pieces of legislation that are specifically aimed at strengthening laws fighting gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).
The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act Amendment Bill and Domestic Violence Amendment Bill was adopted by the committee. Committee Chairperson, Mr Bulelani Magwanishe, said levels of GBVF in the country are among the highest in the world, and are acknowledged as a second pandemic. He said a Presidential Summit against GBVF was held in November 2018, resulting in a declaration which resolved, among other things, to fast-track the review of existing laws and policies on gender-based violence to be victim-centred and ensure all other relevant laws respond to GBVF, implement the recommendations that have been identified from reviews and address legislative gaps and revisit and fast-track all outstanding laws and Bills that relate to GBVF.
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