Journey Towards the NSP & NCGBVF

The journey towards the National Strategic Plan (NSP) and the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NCGBVF) represents a pivotal movement in addressing one of the most critical social challenges of our time. This comprehensive approach emerged from years of advocacy, research, and collaborative efforts among government institutions, civil society organizations, international bodies, and concerned citizens who recognized the urgent need to address gender-based violence and femicide.

Historical Context

Gender-based violence and femicide have long been recognized as significant human rights violations affecting individuals, families, and communities worldwide. The journey towards addressing these issues through coordinated national strategies gained momentum as evidence highlighted the vast scale of the problem and its devastating impacts on social, economic, and health outcomes.

The development of the NSP and establishment of the NCGBVF emerged from growing recognition that fragmented responses gender-based violence were insufficient. Previous approaches often focused on immediate crisis management without addressing underlying causes or creating sustainable, Prevention-focused strategies. Systematic failures in the justice system, inadequate support for survivors, and insufficient prevention efforts highlighted the need for a more coordinated, comprehensive approach.

Early Advocacy and Awareness

Developing the National Strategic Plan

The development of the National Strategic Plan (NSP) represented a turning point in the collective response to gender-based violence and femicide. This comprehensive framework was designed to provide a coordinated, multi-sectoral approach that could address the complex drivers of violence while ensuring adequate support for survivors and accountability for perpetrators.

The consultative process for developing the NSP was extensive, involving:

• Multiple national and provincial consultations with stakeholders
• International best practice reviews
• Expert advisory panels comprising academics, legal professionals, healthcare workers, and survivors
• Data analysis and needs assessments
• Policy framework evaluations

Key Pillars of the NSP

The finalized NSP was built upon several foundational pillars designed to create a comprehensive response:

Accountability and Leadership: Establishing clear governance structures and responsibilities across all sectors, with measurable indicators for success and regular reporting mechanisms.

Prevention: Addressing root causes through education, economic empowerment, and social norm change programs that challenge harmful gender stereotypes and promote gender equality.

Protection and Safety: Strengthening institutions responsible for protecting women and girls, including enhancing security measures in public spaces and improving early warning systems.

Survivor Support: Ensuring accessible, comprehensive, and survivor-centered services including legal support, healthcare, psychosocial services, and economic rehabilitation.

Justice and Accountability: Reforming justice systems to improve response rates, conviction rates, and victim protection throughout the legal process.

Economic Empowerment: Creating opportunities that reduce vulnerability to violence through financial independence and economic participation.

Research and Monitoring: Establishing robust data collection and analysis systems to inform policy, measure progress, and identify emerging challenges.

Establishment of the NCGBVF

The National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NCGBVF) was established as the coordinating body responsible for overseeing the implementation of the NSP. This multi-stakeholder council includes representatives from government departments, civil society organizations, academic institutions, and international partners.

The NCGBVF was designed with several key functions:

• Coordinating implementation of the NSP across different sectors
• Monitoring and evaluating progress toward established targets
• Facilitating resource mobilization from various partners
• Ensuring alignment of interventions with international frameworks and standards
• Creating platforms for ongoing dialogue and learning among stakeholders
• Providing regular public reports on the status of gender-based violence prevention and response efforts

Implementation Challenges

Despite the comprehensive framework established through the NSP and NCGBVF, implementation has faced several challenges:

Policing and Justice System Gaps: Despite reforms, inadequate training, insufficient resources, and persisting attitudes within justice institutions continue to hamper effective responses to gender-based violence cases.

Coordination Complexities: The cross-sectoral nature of the NSP requires coordination among numerous government departments and organizations, each with different priorities, timelines, and bureaucratic processes.

Data Measurement: Creating comprehensive, reliable data collection systems across different sectors has proven challenging, making it difficult to accurately measure progress and identify emerging trends.

Cultural Resistance: Deeply entrenched social norms and attitudes that perpetuate gender inequality and violence have shown resistance to change in some communities, requiring sustained, culturally sensitive approaches.

Progress Achieved

Despite these challenges, the journey toward implementing the NSP and strengthening the NCGBVF has yielded significant progress:

Enhanced Policy Framework: The establishment of the NSP created a comprehensive policy framework that has guided resource allocation, program development, and legislative reforms addressing gaps in protection for survivors and prosecution of perpetrators.

Multi-Sectoral Coordination: The NCGBVF has facilitated cooperation among previously siloed sectors, creating shared responsibility for addressing gender-based violence and improving coordination of services.

Increased Public Awareness: The journey has elevated public discourse about gender-based violence, increasing awareness, reducing stigma for survivors, and encouraging community-based prevention efforts.

Specialized Services: There has been expansion of specialized services for survivors, including dedicated sexual assault courts, improved forensic capabilities, and enhanced psychosocial support programs.

Prevention Programs: School-based educational programs addressing gender equality, consent, and healthy relationships have scaled up to reach more young people.

Looking Forward

As the journey towards implementing the NSP and strengthening the NCGBVF continues, several priorities have emerged for sustaining and accelerating progress:

Resource Mobilization: Developing sustainable financing models that can support the full implementation of the NSP despite competing fiscal demands and economic challenges.

Institutional Strengthening: Continuing to build capacity within implementing agencies, particularly in policing, judicial, and healthcare systems, to ensure effective responses to cases.

Innovation and Technology: Harnessing digital solutions and innovative approaches for prevention, reporting, monitoring, and service delivery.

Intersectional Approaches: Ensuring interventions address the specific vulnerabilities of women facing multiple forms of discrimination based on factors such as disability, migration status, or economic circumstances.

Men and Boys Engagement: Expanding programs that engage men and boys as allies in violence prevention, challenging harmful gender norms and fostering equitable relationships.

Conclusion

The journey towards the NSP and NCGBVF represents a fundamental shift in addressing gender-based violence and femicide from reactive, fragmented responses to a comprehensive, coordinated, and prevention-focused approach. While implementation continues to face challenges, the framework established provides a roadmap for meaningful change.

The true measure of success will be the tangible reduction in violence and improved safety for all women and girls. This requires sustained commitment from all sectors of society, adequate resourcing, and persistent attention to both systemic reforms and cultural change. The journey continues, with each step bringing us closer to a society free from gender-based violence and femicide.