Advocating for implementation of the new Domestic Violence Act in South Africa.

Gender-based violence is increasingly recognized as a profound violation of human rights and a major barrier to social and economic development. Domestic violence is notoriously difficult to document and most prevalence studies are considered underestimates given the reluctance of many women to discuss it. Despite this various studies have identified a high prevalence of both physical and psychological violence against women in South Africa highlighting the urgent need for effective legislation. A prevalence study across three provinces in South Africa in 1999 found that 9.5% of women had been physically abused in the previous year. In one province 28.4% of women reported ever being physically abused and over 50% of women reported one or more types of emotional abuse in the previous year. In another study more than 40% of male workers in three urban municipalities reported having physically and/or sexually abused their female partners in the previous 10 years. (authors)