Umamah Bakharia 

Women’s Month is drawing to a close, but if the month can be summed up in any way, it would be that it once again showcased the horror of abuse, rape and murder of women and children.

South Africa has some of the best legislation and policies in the world, yet the violence continues unabated.

Speaking to Radio Islam International, Project Leader for the Peacebuilding Interventions Programme at the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation, Anthea Flink, says they have been studying the plight of women in South Africa for a while.

“We aim to place emphasis to include them [women] in security structures and processors,” says Flink.

The Peacebuilding Interventions Programme wants to implement the South African National Action Plan (NAP) on women’s peace and security. “It is for this reason that we promote the NAP,” says Flink.

Adding, she says the objective of NAP is to promote and respect the inclusive state of society by operationalising the WPF agenda within South Africa.

They are calling for meaningful participation of women in various structures.