Browsing by Author "Combrinck, Helene"

Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
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    At the crossroads: linking strategic frameworks to address gender-based violence and HIV/ AIDS in Southern Africa
    (Community Law Centre, University of the Western Cape, 2007) Combrinck, Helene; Wakefield, Lorenzo
    In recent years, southern African governments have made a number of important commitments on international and regional levels to combat HIV/ AIDS. The subregion has also seen a number of strategic developments such as the drafting and implementation of the SADC HIV/AIDS Policy Framework for 2003-2007 and the appointment by the UN Secretary-General of a Task Force on Women, Girls and HIV/AIDS in Southern Africa.It is now generally accepted that the intersections between gender-based violence and HIV/AIDS are among the most significant of the gendered dimensions of this pandemic. It is noteworthy that the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women devoted her 2005 thematic report to these intersections. She observed that while some progress is being made separately on ending violence against women and on stemming the spread of HIV/AIDS, national and international efforts would be vastly more effective if they addressed the interconnectness between the two pandemics.
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    A critical appraisal of the right to primary education of children with disabilities in Malawi
    (University of the Western Cape, 2011) Chilemba, Enoch MacDonnell; Combrinck, Helene; Faculty of Law
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    Going the extra mile: police training on domestic violence
    (Institute for Security Studies, 2010) Combrinck, Helene; Wakefield, Lorenzo
    As anticipated by the drafters of the Domestic Violence Act (DVA), the South African Police Service holds the key to the successful implementation of the Act. Over the past ten years, researchers and independent bodies tasked with monitoring the implementation of this legislation have consistently called for more training for police officials on how to deal with domestic violence. However, the reality is that police officials already receive such training. The question that therefore arises is why these training programmes appear to be ineffective in ensuring compliance with the DVA. A recently completed research and advocacy project found that although the majority of SAPS members interviewed had a basic understanding of the DVA and its key concepts, their ability to apply its provisions in practical problemsolving scenarios was often limited, leading to the recommendation that training methodologies should be more practice-oriented if they are to improve DVA compliance.
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    The national implementation of international human rights law pertaining to children with disabilities in selected jurisdictions in Africa
    (University of Western Cape, 2014) Chilemba, Enoch MacDonnell; Combrinck, Helene
    This thesis considers two jurisdictions, namely Malawi and South Africa, and attributes the problem to the lack of appropriate national implementation of the applicable human rights law by these states. Consequently, the study is based on the underlying assumption that one of the main ways of addressing this problem is for African states to undertake measures that comply with international standards for ensuring the appropriate national implementation of the applicable international human rights law.
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    Training for police on the Domestic Violence Act
    (Community Law Centre, University of the Western Cape, 2009) Combrinck, Helene; Wakefield, Lorenzo
    The inadequate or inappropriate police responses to domestic violence often result from a lack of knowledge of the Domestic Violence Act (DVA) and the National Instruction or from a misinterpretation of the DVA’s provisions. In the interviews undertaken, the central question asked was: ‘Do current training programmes provide SAPS members with the knowledge and skills required to apply the DVA and National Instruction in practice?’ It appeared from the interviews that the majority of the research participants had a basic awareness of the DVA and the National Instruction. However, when it came to the practical application of knowledge in a ‘problem-solving’ scenario, it was notable that the majority of interviewees experienced difficulties when multi-faceted variables were included. It was recommended that more members need training on the DVA, and more frequent and/or more in-depth courses should be offered. Furthermore it was recommended that special attention be devoted to training on domestic violence during the basic six months’ training for new students.
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    Well worth the wait? The Sexual Offences Bill in 2006
    (Institute for Security Studies (ISS), 2006) Combrinck, Helene
    The Sexual Offences Bill finally seems to be winding its way to conclusion in parliament. It has taken three years to reach this point since its first introduction in 2003, raising serious questions about the government's sense of urgency in addressing sexual assault. This article looks at the Bill to establish what it really holds for victims of sexual assault.