UPR Sexual Rights Database

The Government remains acutely aware that the level of poverty among vulnerable groups such as women and children is higher than the poverty levels for the general population. [Para 94]

Continue programmes to fight HIV/AIDS

Render operational and grant adequate resources to the National Council against Gender-Based Violence and develop a multisectoral national strategic plan on this issue

Review its relevant legislation and regulations on birth registration to ensure their full conformity with the CRC

JS12 noted that ... and that criminalisation [of sex workers] obstructed their healthcare access. [Para 55]

The Committee on the Rights of the Child expressed concern that criminal law did not address all acts and activities relating to the sale of children as defined in the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography (OP-CRC-SC), such as engaging a child in forced labour, and recommended that South Africa ensure that all acts and activities referred to in the Optional Protocol were covered in its criminal law. [Para 33]

It urged South Africa to harmonize its legislation to ensure that the minimum age for marriage was established at 18 years for both girls and boys. [Para 59; CRC]

... It further welcomed the fact that women represent over 40 per cent of parliamentarians and members of the Cabinet, and over 50 per cent of senior management positions in the public service, but noted that such progress had not been achieved in other areas, including the judiciary, local government, trade unions and the private sector. [Para 16]

The CRPD was ratified by South Africa on 30 March 2007, together with its OP. Currently, the Presidency is reviewing the National Disability Policy Framework. [Para 34]

Eradicate virginity tests and female genital mutilation, for all people without discrimination of their age, throughout the national territory.

In 2014, the Government finalised a National Strategy for Inter-sectoral Management of Sexual Offences which encourages the inter-sectoral approach to all matters relating to sexual offences courts. It sets out clear duties and responsibilities of all stakeholders in the establishment and management of these courts. The National Strategic Plan also provides for the minimum uniformed personnel required at each sexual offence court. All victims should have access to services such as court preparation programme; information materials in the form of text, visuals and Braille; allocation of food for children, vicarious trauma programmes for personnel working with victims of sexual violence as well as a case-flow management system and screening policy to direct sexual offences cases to sexual offences courts where they are established. [Para 65]

Enhance the implementation of laws enacted to prevent and combat gender-based violence including the vigorous enforcement of legal action against the perpetrators of violence.