In short, the South African National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NSP on GBVF) is a social policy document aimed at eradicating GBVF. South Africa is currently one of the most unsafe

places in the world for women, children and LGBTQIA+ persons.

In 2018 the first ever Gender-based Violence and Femicide Summit on the African continent was held in response to the #24Demands handed to President Ramaphosa by #TheTotalShutdown Intersectional Women’s Movement. GBVF was officially declared a national crisis in March 2019. 

The National Strategic Plan on GBVF (NSP on GBVF) was developed based on the resolutions from the 2018 Summit, and included a series of consultations with Civil Society roleplayers in all 9 provinces. It was signed into effect at the end April 2020.

The 6 Pillars of the NSP outline key focus areas with specific outcomes:

• Accountability, Coordination and Leadership
• Prevention and Rebuilding Social Cohesion
• Protection, Safety and Justice
• Response, Care, Support and Healing
• Economic Power
• Research and Information Systems

Currently, there appears to be very little knowledge of the National Strategic Plan on Gender-based Violence and Femicide, and certainly, a distinct lack of conceptual clarity. This is perpetuated by an enduring sense of mistrust between government and civil society actors which limits the extent of

elective collaboration outside of spaces such as the End GBVF Collective which comprising members from government, civil society, the faith sector and limited business involvement. The End GBVF Collective that has shown that collaboration is indeed possible when we engage as equals united behind a common goal to end GBVF.

The epidemic of GBVF is a whole society problem that can only be dealt with through collective action between all sectors of society: government, civil society, academic institutions, organised labour, business, the faith sector, and communities.

The NSP on GBVF provides a strategic roadmap for this multi-sectoral approach and sets out specific plans on how to journey together to end GBVF.

Read about the National Strategic Plan on GBVF Asante’s founder and Executive Director, Gil Harper is part of the End GBVF Collective.