Femicide Prevention Strategy Development Process: The South African Experience

Abstract

Despite surveys to measure the magnitude of femicide, civil action to garner public recognition and, government commitment to respond effectively to femicide, South Africa lacked a comprehensive strategy to inform femicide prevention. This essay outlines the process South Africa followed to develop a femicide-specific prevention strategy and argues for an evidence and practice informed approach in a context where femicide prevention is limited. The strategy for South Africa was developed using a phased, research-driven and consultative approach over six months. Its development was informed by expert review of a previous draft strategy, key multi-sectoral stakeholder consultations and literature on femicide, leading to an evidence-based socio-ecological model of the drivers of femicide and a robust theory of change. A country-level definition of femicide was developed. Subsequently, five (5) key strategic objectives were prioritized: strengthening of legislation and policy; leadership and accountability; building evidence and practice informed femicide prevention; and institutional strengthening. However, successful implementation of the femicide prevention strategy is underpinned by reliance on evidence, practice and contextual relevance; urgency to develop and test prevention innovations; intergovernmental collaboration to ensure effective case management from investigation to sentencing; and political leadership to address challenges and conflicts pertaining to government performance targets and policies.