{"id":18285,"date":"2025-07-25T12:57:34","date_gmt":"2025-07-25T10:57:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/?p=18285"},"modified":"2026-03-12T10:11:01","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T08:11:01","slug":"cedaw-gap-south-africa-domestic-violence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/cedaw-gap-south-africa-domestic-violence\/","title":{"rendered":"The CEDAW Gap: South Africa\u2019s Ongoing Struggle Against Domestic Violence"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><h2>Table of contents<\/h2><ul><li><a href=\"#introduction\" data-level=\"2\">Addressing the CEDAW Gap in South Africa: Tackling Domestic Violence and Promoting Gender Equality<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-bridging-the-cedaw-gap-for-gender-equality\" data-level=\"2\">Bridging the CEDAW Gap for Gender Equality<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"introduction\">Addressing the CEDAW Gap in South Africa: Tackling Domestic Violence and Promoting Gender Equality<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>South Africa faces a significant challenge with high rates of domestic violence, despite legislative frameworks and international commitments designed to address gender-based violence. One such commitment is the <strong>Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)<\/strong>, which South Africa ratified in <strong>1995<\/strong>. However, a \u201c<strong>CEDAW gap<\/strong>\u201d persists. This highlights the gap between the country&#8217;s obligations under the convention and the ongoing prevalence of domestic abuse. This article explores the state of domestic violence in South Africa. It examines how the country responds under <strong>CEDAW<\/strong>, the key gaps in implementation, and the essential steps needed to protect victims and advance gender equality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>This urgent report reveals how<\/em> <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/youth-unemployment-gender-based-violence\/\">Youth Unemployment in South Africa Fuels Rise in Sexual Exploitation and Gender\u2011Based Violence Against Young Women<\/a>.<\/strong> <em>Click to explore the full story and its societal impact.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-1214954773\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Understanding CEDAW and Its Importance to Domestic Violence<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>CEDAW<\/strong>, often referred to as the international bill of rights for women, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ohchr.org\/en\/instruments-mechanisms\/instruments\/convention-elimination-all-forms-discrimination-against-women#:~:text=Altogether%2C%20the%20Convention%20provides%20a,elimination%20of%20discrimination%20against%20women.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">obligates signatory states<\/a> to eliminate discrimination against women in all its forms, including <strong>violence<\/strong>. Specifically, <strong>Article 2<\/strong> mandates the adoption of measures to <strong>prevent and eliminate violence against women<\/strong>, punish perpetrators, and provide adequate <strong>protection and support<\/strong> for victims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"article-1\">ARTICLE 1<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>For the purposes of the present Convention, the term &#8220;discrimination against women&#8221; shall mean any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of equality of men and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-article-2\">ARTICLE 2<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>States Parties condemn discrimination against women in all its forms, agree to pursue by all appropriate means and without delay a policy of eliminating discrimination against women and, to this end&#8230;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>As a <strong>CEDAW state party<\/strong>, South Africa integrates its principles into national laws, such as the <strong>Domestic Violence Act of 1998<\/strong> and the <strong>Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act<\/strong>. The country also submits periodic reports to the <strong>CEDAW Committee<\/strong>, which assess progress. These reports identify challenges in meeting obligations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Scale of Domestic Violence in South Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>South Africa is one of the <strong>world\u2019s most affected countries<\/strong> by domestic violence. According to the <strong>2024 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.saps.gov.za\/resource_centre\/publications\/police_mag\/documents\/2025\/polmag-feb-crimestats-release-2025.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">South African Police Service (SAPS)<\/a> crime statistics<\/strong>, more than <strong>260,000<\/strong> cases of domestic violence were reported. However, experts warn that these numbers are likely to be much higher. Many incidents go unreported due to <strong>stigma<\/strong>, <strong>fear<\/strong>, or <strong>mistrust of law enforcement<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"559\" src=\"https:\/\/media.gauteng.net\/2025\/07\/gauteng-image-1753440161-1024x559.png\" alt=\"Gauteng News Image\" class=\"wp-image-18300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/gauteng-image-1753440161-1024x559.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/gauteng-image-1753440161-300x164.png 300w, https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/gauteng-image-1753440161-768x419.png 768w, https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/gauteng-image-1753440161.png 1092w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.saps.gov.za\/services\/downloads\/2024\/2023-2024%20_Annual_Financial%20year_WEB.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SAPS<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Women and children are the primary victims, suffering from <strong>physical<\/strong>, <strong>emotional<\/strong>, and <strong>economic abuse<\/strong>. The <strong>COVID-19 pandemic<\/strong> worsened this situation, with lockdowns increasing vulnerability. This contributed to a surge in reported cases of domestic abuse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"559\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/gauteng-image-1753440714-1024x559.png\" alt=\"Gauteng News Image\" class=\"wp-image-18304\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/gauteng-image-1753440714-1024x559.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/gauteng-image-1753440714-300x164.png 300w, https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/gauteng-image-1753440714-768x419.png 768w, https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/gauteng-image-1753440714.png 1092w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.saps.gov.za\/services\/downloads\/2024\/2023-2024%20_Annual_Financial%20year_WEB.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SAPS<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-3773651766\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The CEDAW Gap: Challenges in Implementation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Weak Enforcement of Existing Laws<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite South Africa&#8217;s comprehensive legal frameworks, <strong>enforcement remains inconsistent<\/strong>. Many victims struggle to obtain <strong>protection orders<\/strong>, and investigations into domestic violence cases often suffer from <strong>delays<\/strong> or <strong>insufficient attention<\/strong>. The <strong>lack of resources<\/strong> and <strong>limited training<\/strong> for police and judicial systems impede effective responses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-1928426803\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Societal and Cultural Barriers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Patriarchal norms<\/strong> and deep-rooted <strong>gender biases<\/strong> persist in many South African communities, which contributes to the <strong>underreporting<\/strong> of domestic violence. Victims often face societal pressure to remain silent, and perpetrators are rarely held accountable for their actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Limited Access to Support Services<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The availability of <strong>shelters<\/strong>, <strong>counselling<\/strong>, and <strong>medical services<\/strong> for survivors is often inadequate, especially in rural and under-resourced areas. This lack of support services severely limits victims\u2019 ability to escape abusive situations and rebuild their lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-2604117094\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Data and Reporting Limitations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The country&#8217;s <strong>data collection systems<\/strong> on <strong>gender-based violence<\/strong> are fragmented and incomplete. This leads to underestimations of the true scale of the problem. Improved monitoring systems are critical for effective <strong>policy-making<\/strong>, resource allocation, and long-term solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Government and Civil Society Efforts to Address Domestic Violence<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>South African government<\/strong> has initiated <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov.za\/vg\/gbv\/nsp-gbvf-final-doc-04-05.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">several strategies<\/a> to reduce domestic violence. One notable effort is the <strong>National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NSP-GBVF)<\/strong>. This plan allocates <strong>funding<\/strong> and sets <strong>targets<\/strong> for addressing violence against women. The <strong>establishment of specialised police units<\/strong> and <strong>dedicated courts<\/strong> aims to enhance the response to gender-based violence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>The National Strategic Plan was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thepresidency.gov.za\/node\/4890\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">adopted in 2020<\/a> as a society-wide programme to end gender-based violence and femicide. It is organised around six pillars, which are aimed at prevention of GBV, strengthening the criminal justice response to GBV, and providing support, care and healing to survivors of gender-based violence.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Civil society organisations<\/strong> have also played an instrumental role. They provide <strong>direct services<\/strong> to survivors, <strong>raise awareness<\/strong>, and <strong>advocate for policy changes<\/strong>. The collaborative efforts between <strong>government<\/strong>, <strong>NGOs<\/strong>, and local communities are crucial for challenging <strong>stigma<\/strong> and advancing <strong>prevention measures<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-2512442046\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Moving Forward: Closing the CEDAW Gap<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To fully meet its <strong>CEDAW obligations<\/strong> and effectively combat domestic violence, South Africa must prioritize the following actions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Strengthening law enforcement training<\/strong> to sensitise officers on gender-based violence and improve <strong>victim support<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Increasing access to shelters and support services<\/strong>, particularly in <strong>rural areas<\/strong> and underserved regions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Enhancing data collection<\/strong> and <strong>transparency<\/strong> to guide better decision-making and track progress in addressing gender-based violence.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Engaging men and boys<\/strong> in the fight against gender-based violence to challenge harmful societal norms.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Expediting judicial processes<\/strong> to ensure <strong>swift, victim-centred justice<\/strong> that holds perpetrators accountable.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Expanding public education campaigns<\/strong> to change societal attitudes that tolerate domestic violence.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Discover how<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/police-gbv-fight\/\"><strong>Police Step Up Fight Against Gender-Based Violence Amid Ongoing Challenges<\/strong><\/a>.<em> Click to read the full story.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-bridging-the-cedaw-gap-for-gender-equality\">Bridging the CEDAW Gap for Gender Equality<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite South Africa\u2019s strong legal framework and international commitments under <strong>CEDAW<\/strong>, the <strong>persistent prevalence<\/strong> of domestic violence exposes a significant <strong>implementation gap<\/strong>. Bridging this gap requires sustained efforts from <strong>government agencies<\/strong>, <strong>civil society<\/strong>, and local communities. These efforts are necessary to protect victims, <a href=\"https:\/\/equalitynow.org\/news\/news-and-insights\/cedaw_40\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">dismantle systemic barriers<\/a>, and foster a culture of <strong>zero tolerance<\/strong> toward domestic abuse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Progress in addressing domestic violence is essential not only for <strong>women\u2019s safety<\/strong> but also for achieving South Africa\u2019s broader goals of <strong>justice<\/strong> and <strong>gender equality<\/strong>. Closing the CEDAW gap will ensure that South Africa upholds its commitment to <strong>gender equality<\/strong>. This is crucial for <a href=\"https:\/\/iol.co.za\/news\/south-africa\/2025-07-24-addressing-domestic-violence-the-unfulfilled-promises-of-cedaw-in-south-africa\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">creating a <strong>safer society<\/strong><\/a> for all citizens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"CEDAW Quick &amp; Concise: Explaining the Principle of Non Discrimination\" width=\"755\" height=\"566\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OBdDB5PKrmk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/OBdDB5PKrmk?si=cE9WTrmvkU--LXjj\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">YouTube<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Explore South Africa\u2019s ongoing struggle against domestic violence and the \u201cCEDAW gap\u201d between international commitments and local realities. Discover challenges and solutions promoting women\u2019s safety and justice.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":18293,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_focus_keyword":"","rank_math_title":"","rank_math_description":"Explore South Africa\u2019s ongoing struggle against domestic violence and the \u201cCEDAW gap\u201d between international commitments and local realities. Discover challenges and solutions promoting women\u2019s safety and justice.","footnotes":""},"categories":[47],"tags":[2585,8455,2586,493,3605],"class_list":{"0":"post-18285","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-news","8":"tag-gbv","9":"tag-gender-equality","10":"tag-gender-based-violence","11":"tag-preventing-crime","12":"tag-south-african-law"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18285","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18285"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18285\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18306,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18285\/revisions\/18306"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18293"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18285"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18285"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18285"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}