launch
28 March 2009
The Women's Justice and Empowerment Initiative (WJEI) will be launched in
South Africa. This follows a 55 million dollar pledge made in 2005 by the
United States (US) government towards the rollout of the initiative. The
program intends to assist African countries such as South Africa, Zambia, Kenya
and Benin to safeguard rights and provide protection to victims of sexual
violence and abuse.
The victim support component of the WJEI in South Africa is a three year
11,7 million dollar initiative funded by the United States Agency for
International Development (USAID) under a bilateral agreement with the
Department of Justice and Constitutional Development. It provides support to
the Sexual Offences and Community Affairs unit (SOCA) of the National
Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and is implemented by RTI International.
Launched in 2001 in Mannenberg as part of South Africa's anti-rape strategy,
Thuthuzela Care Centres (TCCs) are multi-disciplinary care facilities intended
to address high levels of sexual violence against women and children,
specifically rape. The centres seek to improve the process of reporting and
prosecution of rape and other sexual offences in a dignified and caring
environment.
USAID assistance will help advance the South African government's program to
upgrade and expand its one-stop Thuthuzela Care Centre (TCC) network, a
pioneering effort to better protect the rights of women and children by
providing critical assistance to victims of sexual violence and abuse through
the justice system.
Media is invited to the launch of WJEI in South Africa in order to witness
the interventions made by the government institutions in strategic partnerships
with international donors such as the USAID.
The WJEI launch will take place in Cape Town and will run for three days as
per the attached program and the details hereunder:
Date: 1 April 2009
Time: 09h00
Venue: Le Vern Dome Hotel, Sea Point, Cape Town
There are four specific objectives under WJEI:
* Upgrade and expand the TCC network
* Improve care and treatment for survivors of sexual assault
* Award targeted grants to medical, legal, and psycho-social service providers
for follow-on care to survivors
* Strengthen the SOCA management and communication systems for TCC
sustainability.
Targeted support will expand the TCC network to a further 23 new TCCs over
the next three years across all nine provinces. The program will include site
visits at already operational care centres.
You are kindly requested to RSVP by close of business on Monday, 30 March
2009.
Enquiries:
Tlali Tlali
Cell: 082 333 3880
Issued by: National Prosecuting Authority
28 March 2009
