{"id":179573,"date":"2021-02-05T08:46:43","date_gmt":"2021-02-05T06:46:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/president-launches-fund-to-respond-to-gender-based-violence\/"},"modified":"2021-02-05T08:46:43","modified_gmt":"2021-02-05T06:46:43","slug":"president-launches-fund-to-respond-to-gender-based-violence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/president-launches-fund-to-respond-to-gender-based-violence\/","title":{"rendered":"President launches fund to respond to gender-based violence"},"content":{"rendered":"

President Cyril Ramaphosa has launched a private sector-led, multi-sectoral Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) Response Fund aimed at supporting the implementation of the National Strategic Plan (NSP), and the wider response in the country.<\/p>\n

The response fund is a fulfilment of a resolution of the Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Declaration which followed the GBVF Summit held in 2018.<\/p>\n

The summit brought together government, civil society and other role players in an effort to find lasting interventions to end GBVF.<\/p>\n

The declaration endorsed President Ramaphosa\u2019s call to all South Africans, including the private sector to respond to gender-based violence (GBV), and to allocate the resources required for a national strategy.        <\/p>\n

Progress made <\/strong><\/p>\n

Speaking at Thursday\u2019s virtual launch, the President noted that whilst it has been a challenging year in which many of the priorities set by government for its term of office have had to take a back seat as the country responded to the COVID-19 pandemic, government has nevertheless made progress.<\/p>\n

Progress has been made in a number of areas relating to gender-based violence and the financial inclusion of women.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe convened a successful webinar on the ratification of [the] International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 190 on ending violence and harassment in the workplace, we joined the United Nations (UN\u2019s) Generation Equality Forum and participated in advocacy around GBV and women\u2019s financial inclusion.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe also lobbied for gender-responsive trade policies to be developed as part of the African Continental Free Trade Area. As a country, South Africa has adopted a policy of 40% preferential public procurement for women-owned enterprises, and we are promoting a minimum target of 30% for the region.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said the launch of GBVF Response Fund is testament to the strength and power of social partnership.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt has been a long and challenging road, but we have laid the cornerstone. This is just the beginning, and we are confident that the pledging process will continue into this year, as more of our partners in the private sector and international philanthropies come on board,\u201d said President Ramaphosa.<\/p>\n

He added that the business and donor communities have been the country\u2019s dependable developmental partners since the advent of democracy.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am keenly aware that you have many competing demands on your money, especially during the pandemic. This is about so much more than philanthropy or corporate social responsibility\u2026 it is about making a solid investment in a South Africa that is truly egalitarian, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic, prosperous and free,\u201d President Ramaphosa said.<\/p>\n

Objectives and pledges<\/strong><\/p>\n

The fund has the following objectives:<\/p>\n