The International Women’s’ Forum of South Africa (IWFSA) welcomes President Cyril Ramaphosa’ reiteration during his 2026 State of the Nation Address that Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) is not a private or isolated matter, but a coordinated united action.
The IWFSA, which facilitated the formation of the GBVF Response Fund1 four years ago, acknowledges that the scourge requires long-term change at both institutional and community levels.
The government’s declaration speedily unlocks ring-fenced funding, improves survivor support services, ensures more efficient implementation of existing policies and coordination across all sectors, strengthens services such as care centres, improve training for police officers while upgrading GBV units in police stations.
The declaration allows for expanded access to shelters, safe spaces, psychosocial counselling and community-based prevention programmes to protect survivors and support the most vulnerable.
President Ramaphosa’s speech sends an important signal that the government recognises that a sustained political was essential for meaningful change, including stronger conviction rates to shift social norms and eliminate harmful practices.
The IWFSA recognises that this declaration, made under Section 23 of the Disaster Management Act, reflects the severity of the crisis and underscores the need for coordinated, sustained and nationwide action.
We are always ready to work with like-minded organisations to improve coordination across social development, criminal justice, health, policing and education sectors, ensure that survivors receive timely and effective support and enhance national capacity for monitoring and reporting, while ensuring that community organisations and partners remain aligned with the disaster management framework.
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IWFSA: Advocacy & Voice, Catalytic Strategy and Brand & Reputation Committee
