Gender-based violence policy urgent
AS the country celebrates Women’s Month, the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education has called for the Department of Education and all tersiary institutions to put in place policies regarding violence against women as a matter of urgency.
Committee chairperson Connie September said institutions of higher learning are places of empowering both women and men through skills enhancement and knowledge.
‘These cannot be turned into places of crime and violence,’ she said.
This follows the recent deaths of Zolile Khumalo of eShowe, who was shot and killed allegedly by her ex-boyfriend at a Mangosuthu University of Technology residence in Durban, and Rhodes University student Khensani Maseko who committed suicide after she was allegedly raped on campus.
September said Parliament will continue to hold institutions, statutory bodies, government departments and chapter 9 institutions to account on why the prevalence of violent abuse against women is increasing.
‘Arising out of our engagement with the Human Rights Commission that has pointed out this phenomenon, the committee will begin in the coming Parliamentary term by having the Commission on Gender Equality appear before it.
‘We want them to report to us what steps they have taken to deal with gender-based violence in institutions of higher learning.
‘The committee is appalled that during the month of women’s emancipation, young women still seem to not be offered their constitutional right to freely report abuse at some institutions,’ she said.
The committee said it also looks forward to the efforts made by the police in trying to fight violence against women not only on university campuses but also throughout the society.
They have also urged students to contact the committee if there are lapses in institutional policies on gender violence.
The Department of Higher Education has said the gender-based violence policy and strategy framework will be rolled out at universities and campuses across the country.
This policy is expected to open a wide range of programmes to mitigate the scourge.