MUN

Rebecca Grijalva
April 28, 2014

Violence against women in South Africa
Violence against women in South Africa has been recorded since 1997. It has
been brought to public and political attention after 1999 because of the help of the
womens movement and service providers. Womens violence has been one of the top
concerns that South Africa has been trying to overcome for the last decade with the help
of organizations, more education given, and sanctions for the ones committing an act.
The South African government is aware of the problem of violence against
women. Their principle democratic values, which are: human dignity, equality and
freedom that include right to freedom and security; this freedom involves reproduction
also. In December 2011, a law of protection against harassment was passed in South
Africa. This law follows the constitution of the Republic of South Africa, including: the
right equality, privacy, dignity, freedom and security of a person, being free from all
forms of violence, either being public or private. This law is applied to everyone in
South Africa who is being exposed to harassment. It is important to know the different
types of harassment: sexual harassment, racial harassment, personal harassment, age
harassment, harassment of disabled people and finally, stalking.
Statistics have fully shown how South Africas harassment rate has decreased
since 2011, were the Protection from Harassment Act was passed. Women now have the
opportunity to have a voice and apply for protection if they feel like they are being
harassed in any way. This act has decreased the violence taking place in South Africa,
as well as the UN Women campaign that has been circulating all around the world. It is
important to maintain and continue to raise awareness against harassment; a great way
to do this, is by first explaining what harassment is, listing the types of harassment that
exists, and show the consequences that people who are harassing will face in the future.
MUN
Rebecca Grijalva
April 28, 2014

The United Nations defines violence against women as "any act of gender-
based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or mental harm or
suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of
liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life. (WHO, 2013). The World Health
Organization has been recording data of violence against women for the past years, and
has seen that the most common type of harassment is the one of intimate partner
violence. Child abuse is also a type of harassment that affects boys and girls. Most
commonly, people who have had a low level of education, has been exposed to child
maltreatment, has witnessed family violence at some point of their life, has an antisocial
personality, exceeds the use of alcohol in his life, has a history of infidelity towards
their partner and has accepted his though of gender inequality, are the ones who will
harass women. The psychological effects that women go through after sexual or
intimate partner violence can be very serious. Women can get unintended pregnancies,
abortions, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. They can also start having
depression and drinking and drug problems after the attack. Not only women are
affected after the harassment, but also the children who see this violence occurring in
their homes. Children often see their parents as role models, and if they see that their
dad is always acting violent with his wife, they will start considering it as a normal act
and keep the cycle on for the rest of their lives.
South Africa is considering on implementing more Health education for
children. This will make them be aware of what are the things that are negative and
damaging for them and for others around them. Violence against women campaigns has
to circulate around the world in order for them to be heard. South Africa has shown the
consequences that people would have if they commit a violent act against women or
children. Women should have the opportunity to find a counselor who could help them
MUN
Rebecca Grijalva
April 28, 2014

manage the emotional and psychological damage they have after being abused.
Publicity about ending violence should be also situated in some popular parts of South
Africa in order to raise awareness. Policemen will be monitoring various places
avoiding violence to continue. Violence against women can be diminished if only
people start being conscious of the damage they do to women, and the consequences
they will have after it by implementing a better education system and a society that is
violence-free.

Bibliography:
"Examples of Different Types of Harassment." - Harassment. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr.
2014.<http://www.lse.ac.uk/intranet/staff/humanResources/reviewingAndRewarding/pr
omotionAndReview/disciplinaryGrievance/harassment/examplesOfDifferentTypesOfH
arassment.aspx>.
"SA's New Harassment Act Explained." Women24. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2014.
<http://www.women24.com/CareersAndMoney/Legal/SAs-new-Harassment-Act-
explained-20130422>.
"SouthAfrica.info." Anti-harassment Law Comes into Effect. N.p., 2012. Web. 10 Apr.
2014. <http://www.southafrica.info/services/rights/harassment-
250413.htm#.U0VKMfldV1Y>.
"Violence against Women." WHO. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2014.
<http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs239/en/>.