National Council on GBVF Bill in the pipeline

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Announcement

Topics Constitutional Law & Civil Rights | Criminal Law | Government, Politics & Policy

13 Oct 2021

The Draft National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Bill is in the pipeline.

The women, youth and persons with disabilities department published the draft bill’s explanatory summary in Government Gazette 45267.

According to the explanatory summary, the proposed legislation seeks to set up a multi sectoral, independent and non-partisan advisory body consisting of representatives from both the government and civil society organisations to ensure effective coordination and implementation of the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF-NSP).

The Plan sets out South Africa’s roadmap to fight GBVF.

The department adds that the envisaged structure will be known as the National Council on Gender Based Violence and Femicide and will be accountable to a board.

Cabinet gave the green light to the setting up of the Council in March 2020 describing the structure as responsible for mobilising people nationally, provincially and locally to lead and support transformative GBVF interventions and for implementing the GBVF-NSP.

The National Council on Gender Based Violence and Femicide Secretariat unit led by the chief executive officer will provide technical and administrative support to the Council.

The draft bill aims to:

establish the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide;
provide for the objects and functions of the Council;
appoint the Board of the Council;
provide for the appointment of members of the Board;
provide for the term of office of members of the Board;
provide for the termination of membership of the Board;
provide for meetings of the Board;
provide for the establishment of committees of the Board;
provide for the appointment of an Executive Officer and the Secretariat of the Council;
provide for the establishment of norms and standards for the provincial and local working groups;
provide for the making of regulations; and
provide for matters connected therewith.

The plan is to table the draft bill in parliament during the current financial year.