Home Institution
Wesleyan University
Publication Date
Fall 2017
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to explore how South African civil society organizations (CSOs) influence government policies that are put into place to prevent and respond to gender-based violence (GBV). The project seeks to determine what strategies for influencing these policies have been the most effective and had the greatest impact, what factors have contributed to the organizations’ successes in influencing these policies, what challenges have been experienced in attempting to influence these policies, and what best practice for civil society actors attempting to influence such policies might be. The research focuses on the experiences of seven women working that currently work or have worked for various CSOs and coalitions attempting to influence GBV prevention and response policies in South Africa. The examined organizations include MOSAIC, the Legal Resources Centre (LRC), Sonke Gender Justice, the Heinrich Böll Foundation, and the Shukumisa Campaign. Oral interviews with staff members from these five organizations, as well as two interviews with anonymous participants with years of experience working with various CSOs in the sector, were the primary method of data collection for this project. These interviews were supplemented by desktop research on GBV policy and public participation in South Africa. Through these research methods, this study interrogates how civil society has influenced GBV policy in South Africa, and how, drawing on learnings and insight in this regard, it might have a greater impact in the future, shining a light on the issue of GBV, participation in the policymaking process by survivors of GBV themselves, and nonprofit effectiveness in policy influence in South Africa.
Disciplines
African Languages and Societies | African Studies | Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence | Gender and Sexuality | Social and Cultural Anthropology | Social Policy | Women's Studies
Recommended Citation
Connolly, Sarah, "Assessing the Successes of and Challenges Facing Civil Society Organizations in South Africa, in Influencing Gender-Based Violence Policy" (2017). Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection. 2697.
https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/isp_collection/2697
Included in
African Languages and Societies Commons, African Studies Commons, Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence Commons, Gender and Sexuality Commons, Social and Cultural Anthropology Commons, Social Policy Commons, Women's Studies Commons
Program Name
South Africa: Social and Political Transformation