SAPS ELECTRONIC REGISTER FOR PERPETRATORS OF ABUSE AGAINST WOMEN

Abstract

Abuse against women is a severe social problem that needs an effective combat mechanism. Globally, women have been subjected to violence to such an extent that the problem has caught the international community’s attention. In response to the abuse of women, the international community has introduced a legal framework to assist countries in setting up preventative and protective measures to realise women’s rights and make them free from all forms of violence. The instruments introduced by the international community include UN Resolutions, General Recommendations on violence against women and children, and the like. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 guarantees everyone the right to freedom of security, including the right to be free from all forms of violence. While South Africa has made great strides in passing legislation to protect women from violence, the preventative methods have not been effective in combating women abuse. Thus, South Africa needs more preventative mechanisms to protect women, and police at the forefront of implementing those preventative mechanisms. This article investigates mechanisms that the international community has suggested, looks at other countries’ approaches to combating violence against women, and then argues for a process where women have access to information about a potential abuser’s previous criminal history.