Social Development continues to consult children on the National Strategic Plan on GBVF
Following successful consultations with children on the National Strategic Plan on Gender Based Violence and Femicide (NSP-GBVF) in Gauteng, Western Cape, Northern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, North West, Limpopo; the Department of Social Development, will on Saturday, 23 September, continue consulting children from the Free State and Mpumalanga respectively.
The consultations are informed by last year’s Presidential GBVF Summit, where children requested that the NSP-GBVF, should have Pillar 7, that will specifically look at violence against children.
The consultative sessions are aimed at ensuring that children have an opportunity to express their views on the NSP-GBVF and how their issues find expression on the document.
Children across the country have expressed their displeasure on the current document saying it is biased to women and it has left men and boys. They cautioned against their struggles being included with women’s struggles and were clear that they were abused by both men and women.
They also said that the NSP-GBVF in its current form is not child friendly. TheIr right to participation is protected by the Children’s Act.
The engagements will afford the department to hear children’s concerns and upon concluding the consultations; inputs from children will be submitted to the national steering committee responsible for the NSP-GBVF for a decision on whether to include a separate Pillar 7 for children.
Members of the media are invited to attend and cover the Children’s Consultations on NSP-GBVF Pillar 7, planned as follows:
Bloemfontein Consultations
Date: Saturday, 23 September 2023
Time: 09h00
Venue: 101 Henry Street, Willows, Protea by Marriott Hotel, Bloemfontein, Free State Province
Mpumalanga Consultations
Date: Saturday, 23 September 2023
Time: 09h00
Venue: 167 Jellico Street, Anew hotel in Witbank, Mpumalanga Province
Media can RSVP by contacting Ms Nomfundo Lentsoane on 0664806845 / e-mail: NomfundoLe@dsd.gov.za / Mr Jaconia Kobue on 0632495120 / JaconiaK@dsd.gov.za
Media enquiries may be forwarded to Ms Lumka Oliphant on 0834848067 or lumkao@dsd.gov.zaa
