Violence Against Women
Source: Leaderhsip
Ms. Lulu Xingwana, South Africa's Minister of Women, Children and People Living with Disabilities, has called for stiffer sentences for sexual crime against women, children and disabled persons.
Xingwana told the country's National Assembly on Friday during a debate on violent crime against women, children
and people living with disabilities that the horrific violence against women was a ''matter of serious concern''.
''Perpetrators of violent crimes against women, children and the disabled should get the heaviest possible sentence.
''The horrible spate of persistent sexual violence against women and children continues to be a matter of serious national concern,'' she said.
Xingwana said violence condemned women and the girl-child to a life of fear and prevented them from being productive members of society.
''Women and children need our collective efforts to ensure that they walk the streets without fear of being raped, assaulted, or killed,'' she said.
According to her, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa's effort is to strengthen and provide resources for re-established families by protecting them against further abuses through the instrument of its violence, child abuse and sexual offences units at the police stations.
''This unit would expedite responses to these crimes,'' the minister said..
''The National Prosecuting Authority has also increased its centres to over 40 around the country to provide response, care and support to victims of violent sexual crimes,'' she said.
''I must also commend Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi for recruiting and training forensic technicians to work at a fourth forensic laboratory.
''But additional specialised courts and personnel would help to speed up and reduce the backlog of sexual offences and all cases relating to children.
''We are engaging with the department of justice and advocating that our justice system impose the heaviest possible sentence and no bail for perpetrators of violent crimes against women and children, including those with disabilities," Xingwana said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the high rate of sexual violence against women, children and disable people in the recent time led the country's cabinet to approve the establishment of the national council against gender-based violence, led by Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe.
Xingwana said that the council's first deliverable, among other things, will be to review, facilitate, and monitor the implementation of the 365 days national action plan on no violence against women and children.
She said the recent spate of sexual violence against children had touched the nation's conscience profoundly.