Hon Chairperson, the theme is "Gender Agenda: Gaining Momentum", but we could ask: Is it, and if it is, then what good is it actually doing us? One of many areas where this question is being raised is in Correctional Services. Precious little work, we are told, is being done to differentiate between men and women offenders in jail, where there are far fewer women offenders - about 77% being male and 23% female. There are apparently very few gender-specific programmes for women in South African correctional institutions, compared to the huge amount of research and policy done internationally.
Like it or not, women are quite different in their psychological make-up, yet they are subjected to systems created for men. Women offenders' interests are generally family and child-centred, and there is too little consideration given to this. One of many complex and controversial issues in this regard is that women offenders are permitted to keep their babies with them until they are two years old and then the child is fostered.
Experts say that due to a lack of collaboration between the Department of Correctional Services and the Department of Social Development, there is then seldom any contact between the mother and child, which leads to a lack of bonding and depression. When a mother is released, she is united with her child, but the reunion is then all too often not successful.
There is a need for Correctional Services to be more sensitive in the management of female offenders, generally. Many of these women are breadwinners whose industry provides for large households. Generally speaking, women offenders are a low to medium public safety risk. So it could be worth exploring alternative ways of dealing with them. Proper risk assessments need to be carried out, of course, together with the consideration of noncustodial sentences.
I say this because the National Institute for Crime Prevention and the Reintegration of Offenders, Nicro, has had an 88% compliance with noncustodial sentences since 2008. This is extremely significant and could assist in easing prison congestion and better facilitate the successful rehabilitation of women offenders.
The ACDP calls on government to provide greater support to NGOs who are doing so much work for the betterment of women and South Africa as a whole. Agencies reported tension over funding between NGOs and Social Development that needs to be resolved, because it impacts on people in need who are suffering. Many NGOs previously funded from overseas are getting less and less, and they get no funding from government.
At the same time Social Development concentrates on child offenders, while most offenders are adults, and they are receiving inadequate attention. Momentum is only good if it moves us in the direction that we should be going. Thank you. [Applause.]