The call comes as South Africa slipped two notches in international ratings, to find itself counted among the worst transgressors of women’s rights in the world. The report said gender violence in the country had reached alarming heights, even though South Africa had made strides in appointing women to key positions in the public and private sectors.

Crime statistics in South Africa showed that women and children continued to bear the brunt of crimes in six categories: murder, attempted murder, rape, common assault, indecent assault and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm. The report, which was compiled on behalf of the Presidency, said low conviction rates for rape and domestic violence cases suggested that perpetrators continued to commit violence against women with relative impunity.

The report said government needed to increase its budgetary allocation for law enforcement and increase funding for gender work. In the past three years South Africa has gone from 90 to 92 on the gender development index. Norway, Iceland, Australia, Ireland and Sweden led the way, as countries where women enjoyed more equal treatment. Burkina Faso, Mali, Sierra Leone and Niger were at the bottom of the list.
The ranking looked at the adult literacy rate, the combined primary to tertiary education gross enrolments ratio and estimated income.

Norway, Iceland and Australia have 99% adult literacy for both men and women, an equal ratio of enrolments at educational institutions between men and women, and women earn almost the same income as men.
But in Mali, Sierra Leone and Niger, there is a gaping difference between the development of men and women.

Mali has only 11% literacy among women compared with 26% for its men. Thirty percent of enrolments at educational institutions were for women compared with 40% for men.
The survey indicates that in Sierra Leone 24% of women are literate compared with 46% of men, and 55% of women enrol at educational institutions compared with 75% men.
In Niger 15% of women are literate compared with 42% of men and 18% of women enrol at educational institutions compared with 25% of men. Although South Africa was ahead of most African countries, it was still far behind other middle-income countries such as Mexico, Thailand and Uruguay.

Egypt, Mauritius, Tunisia, Cape Verde and Algeria pipped South Africa to sixth place in the continental ratings.
Sonke’s co-founder Bafana Khumalo said gender transformation in the country would remain elusive until men were recognised as an important part of the process. “Unless we challenge men to be responsible and talk to them about gender issues, it’s going to take a long time to change,” said Khumalo.

Gender activists this week reacted with concern at the country’s drop in international ranking. Lisa Vetten, a researcher for the Tshwaranang Legal Advocacy Centre to End Violence Against Women, said it underscored the weak implementation of good policies and the country’s reliance on the criminal justice system.
“Essentially, this drop suggests that the gap between rhetoric and reality remains unchanged, and that perhaps even a kind of stagnation or paralysis has set in,” she said.

“We need more solutions than just the criminal justice system,” added Vetten.

Spokesman for the Commission for Gender Equality, Yvonne Mogadime, said that at a recent conference, delegates had identified pervasive and deep-rooted patriarchy as the most serious impediment to the advancement of women and gender equality in South Africa.

SOURCE: www.mg.co.za

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