Violence against women, vulnerabilities and disempowerment: Multiple and interrelated impacts on achieving the Millennium Development Goals in South Africa

abstract

Several studies show that Violence Against Women (VAW) and acts or threats of VAW are pervasive in South African society. They instil fear and insecurity into the lives of females and hinder their development and achievement of socio-economic and political equality. Furthermore, research reveals that one of the main risk factors in relation to violence in society is being female. This Article critically examines the impacts of VAW on South Africa's efforts to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It contributes to the existing body of knowledge on VAW and the MDGs in two ways. Firstly, the effects of VAW are examined in relation to all eight MDGs. Additionally, the Article examines the interrelationships between various impacts: integrating consideration of vulnerability and empowerment (power dynamics). The ability of women to cope with and challenge VAW is central to attaining the MDGs. The Article illustrates that VAW impacts on all aspects of women's lives and, therefore, all components of the MDGs. It is therefore imperative that the cross-cutting nature of VAW be addressed, including in the relevant policies, plans and strategies that are aimed at realising the MDGs.

Keywords:

• Violence Against Women (VAW)
• South Africa
• vulnerabilities
• Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
• empowerment

Notes

1. The Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is an international bill of rights for women that describes what constitutes discrimination against women and sets out an agenda for national action to end such discrimination (UN Watch, 2007). Despite CEDAW and the Millennium Declaration of 2000, VAW is not included in the MDGs.

2. PRSPs are statements of national strategy for poverty reduction that set out long-term objectives and priority actions. Furthermore, PRSPs form priorities of public spending and MDG plans by indebted countries in agreement with the International Monetary Fund/World Bank as conditions of loans.