On Thursday October 15th the Gender Advocacy Programme (GAP) in partnership with the Western Cape Network on Violence Against Women (WCNOVAW) hosted a seminar to review the Domestic Violence Act 11 years on.

The seminar sought to build and draw on expert knowledge from civil society organisations and other stakeholders in preparation for public hearings to be held 28th and 29th of October 2009.

This comes in response to the Portfolio Committee and Select Committee on Women, Youth, Children and People with Disabilities who have called for submissions to inform the review of the Domestic Violence Act of 1998.

A task team led by WCNOVAW and GAP are compiling a joint submission focusing on four core areas. These are (i) Victim Empowerment; (ii) Courts; (iii) Shelters and (iv) Psycho Social Support. The task team is made up of the Women's Legal Centre; Women of Action; Overcome Women Action Group; SA Faith and Family Institute; WCN on Disability and REACH.