NEWS
CGE on rape & indecent assault figures rising in SA

The recently released crime statistics are a huge cause for concern especially the increase of crimes such as rape and indecent assault. This is rather serious because, while other crimes such as murder and attempted murder are decreasing, crimes affecting the most vulnerable and defenceless of our society women and children are on the increase.

The Commission on Gender Equality (CGE) would like to strongly concede that the problem of rape in our country is a serious one and as such feels that sentences metered out to perpetrators should be very harsh so as to send out a message that rape will not be tolerated and should be stopped.

The Commission on Gender equality (CGE) condemns all forms of gender-based violence and we continually identifying and challenging the key issues that need to be brought to the surface in reducing and eventually eradicating gender-based violence in our country. The CGE is a constitutional body established to promote, protect, monitor and evaluate gender equality in all societal structures in South Africa.

President Thabo Mbeki has articulated particular concern about the high levels of violence against women and girl children saying that the 'transformation' will not be successful if this violence is not eradicated.

How do we eradicate such violence if rapists are not heeding this call?

The increase in these crimes are perhaps an indication of a society that is becoming breeding ground for rapists, and that is rather terrifying considering the gains and how far women have come in our country in terms of achieving women's rights, which includes the rights to privacy and dignity, and if someone is raped they are stripped of those rights, enshrined in our Constitution.

We are approaching a period known as "The 16 days of Activism Against Violence on Women and Children", which is from the 25 November to 10 December. The 16 Days Campaign is to raise awareness, to address policy and legal issues, to campaign for the protection of survivors of violence and to call for the elimination of all forms of gender violence. In these 16 days the country together with the rest of the world will be focusing on positive mechanism of tackling the scourge of gender based violence.

Contact: Nombuso Shabalala
Media Liaison Officer
E-mail: mbuso@cge.org.za
Tel: (011) 403 7182

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