CGE ANNUAL REPORT

2022/23 ANNUAL REPORT

Thirdly, in addition to the above, the lack of effective enforcement has made it possible for the illegal initiation schools, including in some cases the legal initiation schools, to disregard the rules, regulations and accepted formal practices and codes of conduct governing the practices of initiation and circumcision. This has also created the basis for a range of illegal and criminal activities, including the threats and risks to the health, welfare and lives of initiates that have characterised the sector for the past decade, or longer. Fourthly, we conclude that the processes and practices of recruiting initiates are not standardised or consistently applied across the country, and therefore are highly open to abuse, especially by unscrupulous operators of initiation schools, to the detriment of the rights of initiates. As a result, the risks of underaged boys being misled, forced or tricked into entering initiation and circumcision practices pre-maturely are increased, leading to the contravention of the Children’s Act. Finally, the numerous problems identified above lead to the conclusion that the traditional initiation sector suffers not only from a lack of effective enforcement of current laws, rules and regulations, but also a lack of effective, direct and ongoing monitoring of the activities of initiation schools. We conclude that there is lack of clearly defined national, and in some cases provincial, norms and standards for the regular oversight, monitoring, and evaluation of the work of traditional initiation schools. 1.2.3. Research Study 3: One Step Forward, One Step Backward This study was part of the Commission for Gender Equality long-standing strategic focus on monitoring and assessing government’s responses and interventions to gender-based violence in general and violence against women in particular. The CGE has, therefore, made compliance with CEDAW’s General Recommendation 19 part of its strategic focus on the government’s efforts to combat gender based violence. This report serves as testimony to the efforts made by the CGE. We continue to hold government responsible to deliver on this commitment through various initiatives, including our research focus on gender-based violence. This report contains some of the insights on the challenges that have, and continue to face, the joint efforts of government, civil society, and other stakeholders to develop effective policy, legislative and programmatic responses, and interventions to combat gender-based violence in the South Africa. The study objectives that underpinned the work carried out are as follows: • To examine and assess the programmes, processes and activities of the government aimed at addressing GBVF as set out in the Presidential Summit Declaration against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide. • To examine and assess the role and participation of key role-players, particularly government and civil society organisations, in the work of establishing the multi-sectoral coordinating body on GBVF in line with Article 4 of the Summit Declaration. • To monitor and assess the development and implementation of the National Strategy and Action Plan on GBVF in line with Article 4 of the Summit Declaration. • To assess the implementation of the six-month National Emergency Response Action Response Plan.

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