Deputy Director-General at the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD), Shoki Tshabalala, says government is pursuing protocols that will ensure that gender-based violence (GBV) cases reported on higher education campuses are not swept under the carpet.
Tshabalala was speaking during a gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) Hybrid Panel discussion hosted by the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) in partnership with the University of Johannesburg on Friday.
“I can guarantee you that the Deputy Minister of Higher Education is doing a lot to make sure that there are protocols in place. There is a policy on whistleblowing [to make sure] that institutions are held accountable for not dealing with cases when [students] report issues of harassment.”
She also referred to the International Labour Organisation’s Convention 190. According to the Department of Employment and Labour, the instrument provides a common framework to stop violence and harassment in the world of work, including gender-based violence and harassment.
She highlighted that on a broader front, government is also working on an African Union protocol on violence against women and children.
Tshabalala noted that GBVF has been classified as a disaster in South Africa, which means that departments reprioritised funds to address GBVF challenges.
GBVF was declared a national disaster in terms of Section 23 of the Disaster Management Act of 2002 in November last year.
She added that the department is engaging development partners as well as Treasury and the Department of Social Development as part of efforts to ensure that resources are redirected to where they are needed most.
She called on men on and off campus to ensure that they make campuses safe for all women.
“I would like to plead with all of you…we regard you as our brothers, and we trust you. We believe in you. Make universities a safe space for women.”
Tshabalala urged institutions of higher learning to ensure that streetlights on campuses are working and that dark alleys are attended to as part of efforts to keep students safe.
“No one should feel unsafe when you walk at university,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za
