UPR Sexual Rights Database

National Report Annex 1:
To reduce HIV infections among the youth, specific interventions have been integrated in broader programmes in the context of the National HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan. Specifically, a Youth and Adolescent Friendly Health Services (YFS) programme is being implemented in all primary health facilities. This programme ensures that youth friendly services are provided.

Significant financial support is provided to NGOs and numerous youth friendly initiatives to enhance youth friendly HIV prevention messages through media such as radio, television. These programmes have successfully reached large sectors of the youth.

The Department of Health and the Department of Basic Education, with the Department of Social Development have developed an Integrated School Health Policy and Implementation Plan. This programme will proactively use disease prevention strategies at school through screening for common problems.

Rural areas and informal settlements have been prioritised for the deployment of the Primary Health Care teams, the poorest districts have been prioritised with respect to strengthening school health teams and the worst performing districts with respect to maternal and child health outcomes have been prioritised with respect to deployment of the clinical specialist teams. It should be noted that the major contributor to poor maternal and child health is HIV.

UN Compilation:
Para 48) CEDAW noted with deep concern that South Africa continued to face a serious HIV/AIDS epidemic, and that women and girls were disproportionately affected. It was also concerned about the prevalence of HIV-related stigma, which places women living with HIV at risk of being subjected to violence and discrimination. It called on South Africa to ensure the implementation of the Maternal Child and Women's Health Strategy (2009-2014); and to take sustained measures to address the impact of HIV/AIDS on women and girls.

Stakeholder Summary:
Para 13) SAHRC noted progress in addressing HIV/AIDS, in line with UPR recommendations 12, 13 and 14. In April 2010, a new AIDS treatment policy and awareness campaign had been launched. As part of the campaign, 14 million people had been counselled and over 13.5 million tested for HIV, which represented a six-fold increase in the number of people tested over the previous year. Those found HIV-positive were referred for further support and care. However, although South Africa had a large antiretroviral therapy (ARV) programme, access to treatment was still a challenge. At the end of 2009, an estimated 37 per cent of all infected persons were receiving treatment.

Para 25) JS1 commended the Government for working with civil society to create a platform for children and youth to provide input into the new National Strategic Plan on HIV and AIDS (2012-2016). This addressed UPR recommendations made in 2008.

National Report Annex:
FULL IMPLEMENTATION

Key law reforms undertaken to address gender and sexual violence:
• Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007;
• Protection from Harassment Act, 2011 (Act 17 of 2011);
• Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act, 2013; and
• Prohibition and Prevention of Torture Act, 2013.
The conviction rate relating to sexual offences in 2014/15 stood at 69%; and in the first quarter 71.1% conviction rate.

A number of new policy frameworks were also introduced and implemented, including the Child Justice National Policy Framework, the Restorative Justice National Policy Framework (including forming linkages with traditional justice), the Social Crime Prevention Strategy and the Diversion Accreditation Framework. Government has also adopted a Plan of Action to combat violence against women and children.

Since 2013, sexual offences courts were re-established. In the quest to reduce secondary victimization, 55 Thuthuzela Care Centres were established. In 2011 the UN Secretary-General recognised these centres as a “world best practice model” in the field of gender violence management and response. The South African Police Services has established the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Units in order to provide victim friendly services to victims of gender based violence.

The Department of Social Development has trained victim empowerment service providers in all nine provinces. Six Khuseleka One Stop Centres which provide integrated victim empowerment services have been established. The Department established 84 shelters for abused women and 201 white doors (centres of hope) for victims of gender based violence in different provinces.

A 24 hour Gender Based Violence Command Call Centre has been established. The call centre handles 1500 calls a day and these calls are handled by 40 social workers. The centre has won a number of international awards.

FCS investigators receive specialised training in dealing with sexual offences investigations and cases involving children addition to training as investigators. SAPS has developed the Human Rights in Policing Learning Programmes and has been conducting training on same from 1998 to all law enforcement officials.

The SAPS has developed National Instructions on the Domestic Violence Act and the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act in order to provide clear policy directives for the police in support of members to improve service delivery to victims. The NPA (facilitated by SOCA), in line with Act 32 of 2007 also developed directives for prosecutors on how best to deal with sexual offences in the criminal justice system.

Resourcing and establishing victim-friendly rooms at police service points are on-going. There are currently more than 900 Victim Friendly Facilities rendering victim support services in place and it is envisaged that this will be rolled out to all police stations.

South Africa has dedicated sexual offences courts. These dedicated services use intermediaries, audio-visual equipment and specialised training, among other measures. The NPA’s Sexual Offences and Community Affairs (SOCA) Unit developed comprehensive training manuals which are updated annually to be in line with the latest developments in law for specialist prosecutors and also an integrated training manual for stakeholders at our TCCs.

The Police have training programmes on ensuring the respect of the human rights when conducting investigations, including the issue of sensitivity regarding cases relating to women as victims. The SAPS has a policy which was developed and put into implementation by its National Commissioner to ensure that members render a professional service to victims in respect of the investigation of offences that affect women and to assist victims in this regard. It also provides for information that must be provided to a victim in respect of available services; including HIV testing.

A National Department of Women, located in the Presidency, was established with the necessary dedicated human and financial resources to fulfil its core mandate to ensure effective implementation of initiatives related to the advancement of women and gender equality.

To give effect to the Department’s focus on accelerating women’s socio-economic development and advancement of gender equality through the implementation of gender mainstreaming across government, a refinement of accountability for gender mainstreaming and Gender Focal Points in terms of location, competencies, reporting lines and strategic role in the promotion of gender mainstreaming across the work of government is being tabled at Cabinet. This proposal seeks to reinforce the Constitutional mandate to promote and protect women’s rights, as well as the approach of the National Development Plan on advancing and empowering women. The National Planning Commission Diagnostic Report indicated that many women continue to experience discrimination, poverty, domestic violence, rape, various other forms of abuse and poor health in the country. The approach of gender mainstreaming is seen as significant in addressing the full and effective implementation of legislation, policies and programmes towards redressing these challenges faced by women. Tools that will effectively drive this approach are thus imperative in efforts towards improving the lives of women and their families, and in ensuring that women are empowered, advanced and developed for their own self-reliance.

In, particular the work done by our Thuthuzela Care Centres. Thuthuzela’s integrated approach to rape care is one of respect, comfort, restoring dignity and ensuring justice for victims of sexual violence. The management of TCC-model and roll-out falls within the responsibility of the NPA. The success of it is based upon effective and efficient stakeholder cooperation such as between the Departments of Justice, Health, Education, Treasury, Correctional Services, Social Development, the SAPS and designated civil society organisations. The TCC-model is specifically focussed on being victim-friendly and court directed with prosecutor-guided investigations and stakeholder cooperation. The ultimate goal is to minimise secondary victimization, reduce the cycle period for the finalisation of cases and to increase the conviction rates of these cases. When reporting a crime, the victim is removed from an environment such as a police station, to a more victim-friendly environment before being transported by police or an ambulance to the Thuthuzela Care Centre at the hospital. The person also receives counselling. If the medical examination happens within 72 hours of the incident, post-exposure prophylaxis is given. The investigating officer on call at the centre will take the person’s statement. The person will receive appropriate medication and is given a follow-up date for further medical treatment, before being transported home or a place of safety. A referral letter will be given or an appointment made for long-term counselling.

Before the trial, as part of the TCC-model, a case manager will oversee the prosecutor-guided investigation and will ensure that the case is trial and court ready. The case manager is a legally qualified official with specific additional expertise in dealing with gender-based violence matters.

With regards to the trial, consultations with a specialist prosecutor will take place before the case goes to court and court preparation by a victim-assistant officer will be undertaken. The person must also be given an explanation of the possible outcome and regular updates of the trial process by the case manager. The Thuthuzela model is an outstanding example of interdepartmental cooperation.