Strengthening State Responsiveness to Gender Based Violence

logo for Mosaic
South Africa prides itself on exceptional legislation developed for the protection of women against human rights abuses.  Yet, every single day we are reminded of the exceeding rates of violence against women – women are not safe in their own homes and they’re certainly not safe in public spaces.  What is local government doing about this?  Can we rely on local government to address these issues or is it up to citizens to make their communities safe as was recently exclaimed by a ward councilor in khayelitsha.[1]  

Posted in Taking Action | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Report on the dialogue around consensual sex and underage children

In partnership with the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE), the Shukumisa Campaign held a consultative dialogue on 23 November to discuss how best to deal with the criminalization of consensual sex between underage children. The dialogue was prompted by concerns around how parts of sections 15 and 16 of the Sexual Offences Act of 2007  are implemented.  

Posted in Taking Action, The Law | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Invitation: Making the law work for women

Violence against women is widespread in South African communities and requires everyone to take steps to end its occurrence. As part of this year’s ’16 Days of Activism of No Violence against Women and Children’ the Tshwaranang Legal Advocacy Centre (TLAC) aims to bring communities and ward councilors together to examine the role of local government in addressing violence against women. We will be doing this through three town hall meetings convened in central Johannesburg, Soweto and Ekurhuleni.  

Posted in Taking Action | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Invitation to a consultative dialogue about underage children and sex

Logo for the Commission for Gender EqualityHow should we deal with consensual sex between children under the age of 16?

Commission for Gender Equality & The National Working Group on Sexual Offences

Consultative dialogue: Wednesday, 23 November 2011

 

Posted in Taking Action | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Findings of the Shukumisa Monitoring of Police Stations

Law only becomes real if it implemented effectively. For this reason organisations forming part of the Shukumisa Campaign have been monitoring the 2007 Sexual Offences Act since 2008. In 2010 we carried out a further round of monitoring at 70 police stations during the 16 Days of Activism to End Violence Against Women and Children. Twenty-one stations were visited in Gauteng, 27 in the Western Cape, 16 in Limpopo and 6 in KwaZulu-Natal.  

Posted in Taking Action | Tagged , | 1 Comment

  • The Shukumisa Campaign

    About Us

    Welcome to the Shukumisa website, an online resource for

    • rape survivors and their families
    • concerned citizens
    • community activists

    The word Shukumisa means to shake or stir things up

    The Shukumisa Campaign was created in 2008 and aims to stir and shake up public and political will to develop and implement policies related to sexual offences

    Imagine a South Africa where:

    • Everyone treats rape as a serious crime
    • Quality Health, Policing and Legal services are available to all rape survivors, everywhere
    • All women are free to move around as they please, dressed as they please
    • Rape victims aren’t stereotyped in our media
    • We are all included in the development of laws that affect our lives and our communities.

    You can join us by:

    • Adding your voice to our Facebook discussions
    • Supporting our activities, or suggesting them
    • Writing to the media and Government to complain when the law fails rape survivors
    • Getting involved with organisations linked to the Shukumisa Campaign

  • Supported by

    This project is funded by the European Union The European Commission is the EU’s executive body.

    The European Union is made up of 27 Member States who have decided to gradually link together their know-how, resources and destinies. Together, during a period of enlargement of 50 years, they have built a zone of stability, democracy and sustainable development whilst maintaining cultural diversity, tolerance and individual freedoms. The European Union is committed to sharing its achievements and its values with countries and peoples beyond its borders