United Nations Special Rapporteur Dubravka Šimonović will visit South Africa from 4 to 11 December to examine the overall situation of violence against women and girls in the country, and gather first-hand information from victims and survivors of violence.
 

“Violence against women continues to be one of the most pervasive human rights violations globally, affecting every country in the world,” Ms. Šimonović said announcing her first visit to South Africa as the new expert charged by the UN Human Rights Council with monitoring, reporting and advising on the situation of women and violence across the world.
 
“When women and girls experience violence, they are denied access to fundamental human rights,” she stressed. “States have a primary responsibility to take effective action to eliminate violence against women, so it is ultimately up to State authorities to make its eradication a reality.”

During her eight-day visit, the Special Rapporteur will meet with Government authorities, civil society representatives and other stakeholders in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Diepsloot, Cape Town and East London. She will also visit shelters and a detention center, and will meet with individual victims of gender-based violence.

“I am grateful to the South African Government for the invitation to conduct an official visit to the country and I look forward to engaging in a constructive dialogue with all relevant authorities to address this scourge that continues to affect women and girls,” Ms. Šimonović added.

The Special Rapporteur will hold a press conference on the initial findings of her visit on Friday 11 November 2015 at 11:00 in the Sheraton Hotel Pretoria, (643 Corner Stanza Bopape and Wessels Street, Arcadia, Pretoria). Access to the press conference is strictly limited to journalists.

Based on the information obtained during the visit, Ms. Šimonović will present a report with final findings and recommendations to the Human Rights Council in June 2016.