Out of order! Hon Deputy Minister, your first question is number 122 asked by hon Bara.
Question 122:
The DEPUTY MINISTER IN THE PRESIDENCY FOR WOMEN, YOUTH AND PERSONS
WITH DISABILITIES: Hon Chairperson and hon members, just to respond to this question: I would like to say that hon members will recall
that during the Joint Sitting of Parliament on 18 September this year, the President made an announcement of the five-point emergency action plan on ending gender-based violence and femicide. The President committed resources towards the implantation of the National Strategic Plan to the value of R1,1 billion. Immediately thereafter, the National Treasury wrote to nine key departments to request them to identify funds within their budgets to be utilised immediately to implement or fast-tract the emergency action plan.
The second part of the question talks to the action plan itself. So, the action plan towards the effective implementation of one of the five-point plan will be conducted in partnership with NGOs, faith- based organisations, institutions of higher learning, traditional leaders and all other sectors of society such as the men's group that the President has invited to be part of the solution.
Chairperson, maybe I just need to quickly mention the five-point plan that the President talked about without giving details. The first component of this is looking at prevention and what needs to be done. One of the activities is the mass media campaign targeting communities and creating awareness in public spaces, workplaces, schools and so on.
Also the second part, talks about strengthening the criminal justice system. We all know that we have the Sexual Offences Courts which have to be strengthened and expanded, especially in rural communities.
The third point talks about enhancing legal and regulatory reforms, so as engaging with the judiciary on the role that it can play in ensuring in ensuring successful prosecutions.
The fourth point is to ensure adequate care, support and healing. Hon members will know the trauma and its impact on the survivors. So, this is a critical component which is carried out through the Thuthuzela Care Centres that are in each an every province which we hope to expand from the current 54 to make sure that people get adequate assistance.
The last point, which is the fifth one, is the improvement of the economic power of women which is seen as the fundamental problem why women stay in difficult abusive relationships because they have no adequate resources to choose alternative plans and to take care of their lives and children. Thank you.