THE National Assembly has passed gender-based violence (GBV) bills that will change the landscape in terms of how government departments, law enforcement and the courts deal with cases of violence against women and the vulnerable.
The three bills – namely the Criminal and Related Matters Amendment Bill, Domestic Violence Amendment Bill and the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act Amendment Bill – were passed during a sitting on Thursday.
The bills were introduced in Parliament following a Presidential Summit against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) held in November 2018.
The summit resolved, amongst others, to fast track the review of existing laws and policies on GBV making them victim-centred, as well as to ensure all other relevant laws respond to GBV. It also resolved to revisit and fast track all outstanding laws and bills that relate to gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).
Criminal Law Amendment Bill
The
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