Define the term gender-based violence.
About this question
Question 2.1 of Life Orientation Grade 10, Provincial Task (Mpumalanga DoE, February 2026). It tests the Term 1 ATP topic Diversity, Discrimination and Human Rights.
- TermTerm 1
- ATP topicDiversity, Discrimination and Human Rights
- PaperMP Task Term 1 2026
- Marks2 marks for one fully developed point
Gender-based violence (GBV) in South Africa is a pervasive crisis, with alarming statistics indicating high rates of violence against women and vulnerable groups, prompting the government to declare it a national disaster.
South Africa has some of the highest rates of gender-based violence in the world. According to recent studies, 36% of women reported experiencing physical or sexual violence at some point in their lives, with 24% indicating violence from an intimate partner. In a single quarter, police recorded over 10 000 rape cases, highlighting the severity of the issue. The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) reported that 33.1% of women over 18 have experienced physical violence, with significant victimisation among black African women and women with disabilities.
The persistence of GBV could be attributed to various factors. Fundamentally, it remains a big problem that any civilised society must deal with so that everyone feels protected in their homes, neighbourhoods, community and society. Imagine a young person having to be raised in a family where GBV is common practice. It may have negative consequences on their wellbeing, outlook on life and how they relate to others.
Because many people are coming forward about their sexual orientation, incidents of corrective rape have been increasing, as some believe subjecting others to it may change their sexual preferences or identity.
In response to the escalating crisis, the South African government has classified gender-based violence and femicide as a national disaster. This classification allows for faster coordination and resource allocation to combat GBV. The Domestic Violence Act has been amended to provide better protection for victims, including recognising various forms of abuse and expanding the definitions to include controlling and coercive behaviour.
Despite these efforts, challenges remain. Many cases of GBV go unreported due to fear of stigma or lack of trust in law enforcement. Frontline workers, such as social workers and community advocates, often face violence and stress themselves while trying to support victims. Addressing GBV in South Africa requires not only legal reforms but also a cultural shift in attitudes towards gender and violence, hence the campaign "16 Days of Activism against Women and Child Abuse". This and other campaigns, however, did not fundamentally change the attitudes of South Africans towards women and children. Gender-based violence in South Africa is a multifaceted issue that demands urgent attention and action from all sectors of society.
[Adapted from https://www.bing.com. Accessed on 27 January 2026]
Gender-based violence is any harmful act directed at a person because of their gender, with the intention of hurting, humiliating, controlling or dominating them.
Other points that earn marks
- Physical, sexual, emotional, psychological or economic abuse committed against women and girls.
- Any act meant to control or dominate someone because of their gender or the gender roles expected of them.
More Questions On Diversity, Discrimination and Human Rights
Discrimination.
Discrimination is unfair treatment of people because of who they are, such as their race, gender, religion or sexual orientation.
Human trafficking.
Human trafficking is the illegal buying, selling and moving of people, who are then exploited for labour or sex. It is a serious human rights violation and a modern form of slavery.
Sporting venues should host events that attract people of all backgrounds and cultures, because sport brings different communities together, and they should ban every form of racism in sport.
Two practical strategies that local parents could implement to prevent human trafficking are:
- Parents could talk openly to their children about the dangers of human trafficking and the tricks traffickers use, such as fake job offers or people met on social media. Children then know the warning signs, so they are less likely to be lured away by strangers.
- Parents could closely monitor their children's movements and online activity, for example by knowing where they are, who their friends are and who they chat to. This makes it harder for traffickers to make contact with children and keeps them safe.
D: Unjust treatment of people on the grounds of race, age or sex.
Discrimination is treating a person or group unfairly because of who they are, which goes against the right to equality.
The government could run community awareness campaigns, through schools, radio and community meetings, that teach people about the rights of foreign nationals and the contribution they make to the economy. This would correct false beliefs, such as the idea that foreigners take all the jobs, which often lead to xenophobia. As a result, communities would be more tolerant and accepting, and the number of xenophobic attacks would drop.