SECOND ANNUAL SOUTHERN AFRICA LOCAL

GOVERNMENT AND GENDER JUSTICE

SUMMIT AND AWARDS
28 – 30 MARCH 2011
KOPANONG HOTEL, JOHANNESBURG,
RESPONSE

SOUTH AFRICA
“365 DAYS OF LOCAL ACTION TO END GENDER
VIOLENCE: HALVE GENDER VIOLENCE BY 2015”

CHILD AND GENDER PROTECTION

UNIT PITSENG POLICE STATION BY
‘MATUMELO MAQOKELA
 HOW DID YOU GO ABOUT IDENTIFYING
THIS PROBLEM?

THE PROBLEM WAS THE INCREASING

RATE IN THE CASES OF :
RESPONSE

• ABUSE
• EXPLOITATION
• NEGLECT
• VIOLENCE AMONG CHILDREN AND
YOUTH

CHILD AND GENDER

PROTECTION UNIT PITSENG
POLICE STATION
 IS THIS ISSUE IMPORTANT?

THE ISSUE IS VERY IMPORTANT

BECAUSE:
RESPONSE

• JUSTICE IS OBSERVED
• PERPETRATORS ARE TAKEN TO JAIL
• TRANSFER OF SURVIVORS OF
GENDER VIOLENCE FOR
COUNSELLING SESSIONS

CHILD AND GENDER

PROTECTION UNIT PITSENG
POLICE STATION
 HOW ARE YOU GOING ABOUT
ADDRESSING THI S PROBLEM?

• SENSITISE AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THE

RIGHTS OF CHILDREN AND WOMEN.
RESPONSE

• PROVIDE A USER FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT

AND INVESTIGATE ALL COMPLAINTS
REPORTED BY THE PUBLIC.
• REFER CHILDREN IN NEED OF CARE TO
PLACES OF SAFETY.
• EDUCATE FAMILIES THROUGHOUT THE
COUNTRY ON ISSUES OF NEIGHBOUHOOD
WATCH

CHILD AND GENDER

PROTECTION UNIT PITSENG
POLICE STATION
 WHAT IS THE TIME-FRAME FOR THE
PROJECT?

• CHILD AND GENDER PROTECTION

UNIT IN THE LESOTHO MOUNTED
RESPONSE

POLICE SERVICE WAS

ESTABLISHED IN NOVEMBER 2002
AND IT IS ON -GOING PROJECT
THAT CAN NOT STOP.

CHILD AND GENDER

PROTECTION UNIT PITSENG
POLICE STATION
 WHO IS THE KEY TARGET? WHO IS
INVOLVED? ARE WOMEN AND MEN
EQUALLY INVOLVED?
• OUR KEY TARGET IS WOMEN, CHILDREN
VULNERABLE PEOPLE AND THE PUBLIC
RESPONSE

AS A WHOLE.
• BOTH FEMALE AND MALE SURVIVORS OF
GENDER BASED VIOLENCE, DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL OFFENCE.
• THEY ARE EQUALLY INVOLVED AS THEY
BOTH REPORT THE ABUSE AND THEIR
CONCERNS ARE EQUALLY TAKEN INTO
CONSIDERATION.
CHILD AND GENDER
PROTECTION UNIT PITSENG
POLICE STATION
 PARTNERSHIPS FORMED THROUGH THE
PROJECT

• WE WORK WITH COMMUNITY

CRIME PREVENTION MEMBERS,
RESPONSE

LOCAL GOVERNMENT, SOCIAL

WELFARE, LESOTHO CHILD
COUNSELLING UNIT, NON-
GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS
AND THE OFFICE OF THE MASTER
OF THE HIGH COURT.

CHILD AND GENDER

PROTECTION UNIT PITSENG
POLICE STATION
 RESOURCEFULNESS: WHAT FINANCIAL,
HUMAN AND OTHER RESOURCES WERE
MOBILISED?
• THE GOVERNMENT IS THE ONLY
MEANS OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES,
RESPONSE

THEREFORE RESOURCES ARE

INSUFFICIENT. HUMAN RESOURCES
AND VEHICLES ARE SCARCE, THIS
PREVENTS US FROM PERFORMING
OUR DUTIES AS PLANNED.

CHILD AND GENDER

PROTECTION UNIT PITSENG
POLICE STATION
 MONITORING AND EVALUATION

• WE TRYING TO MEET THE TARGET

AS MOST CASES ARE SEND TO
RESPONSE

COURT AND PERPETRATORS ARE

SENTENCED TO JAIL.
• WE ALSO FAIL TO MEET OUR
TARGET DUE TO INSUFFICIENT
EVIDENCE.

CHILD AND GENDER

PROTECTION UNIT PITSENG
POLICE STATION
 WHAT RESULTS HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED?

• PEOPLE ARE ARRESTED AND SENT

TO COURTS OF LAW.
RESPONSE

• OUT OF COURTS SETTLEMENT IS

DONE IF NECESSARY.
• SOME CASES ARE TRANSFERRED
TO THE OFFICE OF MASTER OF
HIGH COURT.

CHILD AND GENDER

PROTECTION UNIT PITSENG
POLICE STATION
 IMPACT (BASED ON THE SADC
PROTOCOL TARGETS)

• WE EDUCATE COMMUNITIES ABOUT THE

GENDER BASED VIOLENCE.
RESPONSE

• WE ALSO URGE COMMUNITIES TO FORM

CRIME PREVENTION COMMITTIES THAT
WORK SMOOTHLY WITH US.
• GIVE THE PUBLIC THE FEEDBACK ON
THEIR CASES REPORTED.

CHILD AND PROTECTION UNIT

PITSENG POLICE STATION
 EFFECTIVENESS

WE ARE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND

ABLE:
RESPONSE

• TO ARREST THE SUSPECTS

• SEND THE CASES TO COURT
• MOST OF PEOPLE ARE SENTENCED
TO JAIL
• RESOLVE THE FAMILY CONFLICTS.

CHILD AND GENDER

PROTECTION UNIT PITSENG
POLICE STATION
 SUSTAINABILITY AND REPLICATION

• IT IS A LONG TERM SERVICE

DELIVERY PLAN AND CAN BE
RESPONSE

REPLICATED BY OTHER POLICE.

CHILD AND GENDER

PROTECTION UNIT PITSENG
POLICE STATION
 LESSONS LEARNED

• GENDER VIOLENCE DOES NOT ONLY

AFFECT WOMEN, IT ALSO AFFECTS MEN
RESPONSE

AS WELL AS BOYS AND GIRLS.

• SEXUAL OFFENCE IS REPORTED BY BOTH
SEXES.
• PEOPLE UNDERSTAND VIOLENCE AND
COME TO OUR OFFICES TO REPORT.
• PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THEIR RIGHTS
• WOMEN ARE EAGER TO STAND FOR THEIR
RIGHTS.
CHILD AND GENDER
PROTECTION UNIT PITSENG
POLICE STATION