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IOL News
4 hours ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Addressing domestic violence: The unfulfilled promises of CEDAW in South Africa
Women's Legal Centre asked the government to implement recommendations set out by the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) to end domestic violence. Image: File The government has been requested to put the recommendations of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) into action to eliminate domestic violence in the country. The Women's Legal Centre (WLC) said there are many recommendations that the government has not implemented five years later, following CEDAW's visit. The centre, through its Gender Responsive Research and Advocacy on CEDAW (GRACE) Project, established that the situation remains dire despite the recommendations set out by the committee. During its three-day visit in 2019, the CEDAW committee engaged with experts, survivors, and civil society organisations. Video Player is loading. 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Next Stay Close ✕ This was after the WLC, along with partner organisations, in 2013, formed a National Task Team and submitted a formal request to the CEDAW committee to investigate South Africa's response to domestic violence, reporting that the high levels of domestic violence in South Africa amount to a grave concern CEDAW's findings in 2021 were unequivocal: the South African government was in grave and systemic violations of its due diligence obligation to prevent and investigate acts of domestic violence, prosecute and punish perpetrators of domestic violence, and provide effective remedies for victims of domestic violence. The committee further noted various violations of rights under the convention, including the right to live free from domestic violence, the right to access to justice, and victim support. In response to these failures, CEDAW issued 21 formal recommendations, including the prevention, investigation and punishment of all forms of domestic violence, the implementation of a National Strategic Plan on gender-based violence (GBV) with dedicated funding and the adoption of the Women Empowerment and Gender Equality Bill, prohibiting discrimination. The committee also suggested that the government should institutionalise affordable or free legal aid for domestic violence victims, strengthen accountability measures for SAPS officers, and ensure prompt handling of domestic violence cases. It added that offenders should be prosecuted, denied bail, and penalised adequately, and that drug and alcohol treatment and education programmes in communities and schools should be implemented, adding that civil society organisations conducting awareness should be financially supported. The WLC said the Grace research report, conducted in 2025, found that the situation remains dire. According to the research, the country had the highest number of reported rape cases per capita in the world in 2022. SAPS data confirms that 40,035 rapes were reported in 2017 to 2018, rising to 42,780 in 2022 to 2023, and slightly decreasing to 42,569 in 2023 to 2024. In the same timeframe, femicide surged. Between 2021 and 2024, the number of women murdered rose by 33.8%, from 3,771 to 5,578. From 2023 to 2024, 80% of all reported sexual offences were rapes, accounting for more than 42,500 cases. The centre said these findings reinforce what survivors and advocates have long said, that South Africa's laws are not implemented effectively and are not protecting women in practice. Meanwhile, the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities said there is no backlog for GBVF cases, adding that since the establishment of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and SAPS project, a total of 52,101 cases were prioritised for analysis and finalised as directed by the court and NPA. The department said the successful finalisation of all GBVF case backlogs and the significant number of cases prioritised and finalised by the NPA and SAPS project represent a major achievement in ensuring timely justice for survivors. The department said 223 healthcare facilities were designated across nine provinces and their services include medical examination, DNA evidence collection, PEP/HIV testing, compulsory HIV test for sex offenders, and medical reports for the court. The department added that 95% of child support grants are paid to women, and an inter-ministerial committee on GBVF and substance abuse was established to deal with interlinked social ills. However, WLC said the legal framework is strong on paper but frequently fails due to poor enforcement, chronic underfunding, and fragmented implementation. The centre added that there is a widespread lack of accountability, adding that government actors often face no consequences when they fail in their duties. 'Frontline workers, including police and court officials, lack training, and awareness of domestic violence law. Protection orders are inconsistently applied, often ignored, and in some cases, women were murdered despite having one in place,' said WLC, adding that there is also a lack of meaningful partnership between government and civil society, with some organisations afraid to speak out due to funding risks. 'CEDAW is not just symbolic; it is legally binding. The government didn't just sign it; it committed to it by its ratification of the convention. And yet, women are still experiencing violence and being killed.'
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Felix Baumgartner's official cause of death after famous skydiver's freak accident
Red Bull-sponsored athlete Felix Baumgartner died last Thursday after his motorised paraglider spiralled fatally out of control before crashing into a holiday camp The cause of death has been revealed for Austrian daredevil Felix Baumgartner, who was killed in a catastrophic paraglider crash while descending over an Italian resort. The 56-year-old Red Bull-sponsored athlete died at around 4pm local time on Thursday after his motorised paraglider spiralled fatally out of control above Porto Sant'Elpidio, a coastal town in Italy's Fermo province. Baumgartner, who was holidaying with his partner Michela Radulescu, had been soaring above the Adriatic Sea when he crashed into a swimming pool at the Le Mimose holiday camp. An investigation into the incident is now underway. Attorney General Raffaele Iannella confirmed to BILD that autopsies are currently being carried out on Baumgartner's body at the forensic medicine department of nearby Fermo hospital. READ MORE: Austrian daredevil Felix Baumgartner killed in horror paragliding crash He said: "What we know for sure so far: Baumgartner died on impact, his spine fractured in the lower part of his back, and his spinal cord was damaged." Local media reports suggest a freak mid-air malfunction may have caused the sudden descent. Investigators are examining the possibility that a camera mounted to Baumgartner's paraglider dislodged and fell into the propeller, destroying it mid-flight. Authorities are working to recover the camera to piece together a clearer timeline of the crash. Italy's public prosecutor's office has said the investigation could take between 40 and 45 days to complete. READ MORE: Felix Baumgartner's last tragic Instagram post before fatal paragilde crash In the aftermath of the tragedy, Michela Radulescu posted chilling footage of Baumgartner taken just minutes before his final flight. Sharing the clip on X, she wrote: 'For over 12 years I was there for every take off and landing, from skydiving, paragliding, helicopter flights, paramotor to aerobatic shows. And when I couldn't be there for some heli flights, we had the WLC code - 'the Wifey Landing Call'. Never missed one. Except …this one.' Describing him as 'truly special,' she said Baumgartner was 'going home now, up there, where he was the happiest ever.' The 55-year-old also thanked supporters for keeping 'his unique legacy high up.' Baumgartner shot to global fame in 2012 when he jumped from the edge of space in what remains the world 's most extreme skydive.
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Felix Baumgartner's widow shares footage of fatal paraglider flight as she pays tribute to ‘truly special' partner
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FELIX Baumgartner's grieving partner has shared footage of the daredevil's doomed final paragliding flight. The Austrian athlete, 56, most famous for jumping to Earth from the edge of space, tragically lost his life in an accident while on holiday in Italy last week. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Felix's bereaved partner posted a clip of his beginning his final flight Credit: X/@mihaschw 6 He can be seen disappearing off into the sky for the last time Credit: X/@mihaschw 6 Felix is thought to have suffered a cardiac arrest during the flight Credit: X/@mihaschw 6 Felix Baumgartner reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest before crashing into a swimming pool Credit: Shutterstock Editorial His partner, Michela Radulescu, revealed how she held his hand in his dying moments - after he suffered a suspected cardiac arrest midair and crashed into a swimming pool. A clip shared by Michela on social media shows the moment the adrenaline junkie took off from a field to begin the flight. Wearing shorts and a crash helmet, Felix fires up his propeller pack and runs across the grass - as he had done so many times. The wing fills with air and lifts him up from the ground, and he tucks up his legs. Felix soars high into the cloudless blue sky, getting smaller and smaller. Michela, 55, a Romanian TV presenter, said she watched him disappear "not knowing that this would be his last flight of his extraordinary life". In a heartbreaking video posted to X, Michela says: "For over 12 years I was there for every take off and landing, from skydiving, paragliding, helicopter flights, paramotor to aerobatic shows. "And when I couldn't be there for some heli flights, we had the WLC code - 'the Wifey Landing Call'. Never missed one. Except …this one." She said that her "truly special" was "going home now, up there, where he was the happiest ever". In a tribute Felix, Michela wrote in : "He died doing what he loved the most - flying - in a happy place we came for the third time, with me holding his hands and shouting at him to FIGHT. The first fight he lost… Skydiver famous for space jump dies in paragliding tragedy after crashing into pool "Keep telling his story, specially to your kids - in a world full of Dreamers, teach them about the Dreamer who made all his dreams come true, working damn hard for every single one of them." The Red Bull-sponsored athlete became a household name when he jumped to Earth from a space helium balloon in 2012. He set world records for skydiving an estimated 24 miles and reaching an estimated top speed of Mach 1.25 (843.6mph). The stunt also made him the first person ever to break the sound barrier without vehicular power. 6 Felix Baumgartner's tragic final post has been revealed Credit: Instagram @therealfelixbaumgartner 6 The daredevil skydiver lost his life in a paragliding accident on Thursday Credit: Shutterstock Editorial His own tragic final Instagram post also documented the preparation for the flight. Felix had been flying in a motored paraglider when he is believed to have suffered a "sudden onset of illness." This caused him to lose control, with Baumgartner's glider crashing to the ground and into a hotel swimming pool. He was reportedly killed instantly in the tragic accident. Meanwhile, a hotel employee was also injured during Baumgartner's fall. They were said to be struck by the paraglider as it hit the ground.
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
WPP Media South Asia unveils new leadership structure
WPP Media South Asia announced a realignment of its leadership, signalling a bold new chapter for the agency. Aligned with its ambitious Vision '30 strategy , the company has established a new Executive Committee (ExCo) and a WPP Media Leadership Council (WLC) to spearhead its South Asia strategy and deliver enhanced value for clients, as per the internal communication. The newly formed Executive Committee will partner closely with Prasanth Kumar, India and Sri Lanka Head, to lead the implementation of the strategy. This includes Priti Murthy, Ajay Gupte, Amin Lakhani, and Navin Khemka, who are appointed presidents, client solutions , WPP Media South Asia. They will each lead distinct client portfolios, aiming to sharpen customer focus and ensure every team prioritises client impact. Further strengthening the ExCo, Vishandas Hardasani continues in his role as chief finance officer, WPP Media South Asia, with a mandate to further embed a robust commercial and compliance mindset throughout the organisation, viewing governance as a foundation for sustainable growth. Ashwin Padmanabhan, chief operating officer, WPP Media South Asia, joins the ExCo where he will oversee execution excellence for clients and strengthen the ecosystem of partners across various media verticals, including emerging areas like Commerce, Performance, Content, Sports, and Influencer Marketing. The company is also in the final stages of onboarding a Chief People Officer , emphasising a "People-first" culture focused on learning, leadership, and professional development, recognising that investment in its workforce is paramount for future success. Praseed Prasad, president, growth & marketing, WPP Media South Asia, responsible for the overall new business agenda, including expansion into new geographies, high-growth categories, and building the WPP Media brand across the industry. Upali Nag, president, strategy, WPP Media South Asia, tasked with leading strategic initiatives for key clients by integrating domain expertise with compelling storytelling and leveraging WPP Media's extensive product and solution offerings, particularly with the upcoming rollout of Open Media Studio in Q3 2025. Vishal Jacob (VJ), president, Choreograph WPP Media South Asia, with a focus on growing the Choreograph business by integrating its capabilities across more than 200 clients and driving the adoption of the WPP Open platform to empower client decisions with intelligence and technological innovation. In addition to the ExCo, WPP Media South Asia has introduced the WPP Media Leadership Council (WLC), a select group of senior leaders who will work in close alignment with the ExCo. Members of the WLC, alongside the ExCo, include Ajay Mehta, Atique Kazi, Ruchi Mathur, Shekhar Banerjee, Snehi Jha, Vinit Karnik , Manini Chakraborty , Namalie Herath , Murali T , Parveen Sheik and Rohit Sule.
Daily Record
23-06-2025
- General
- Daily Record
West Lothian to trial grass-roofed bus shelters as party of eco-plan
The scheme grasses over flat shelter roofs and adds a natural green island into otherwise urban landscapes, as well as encouraging flora and fauna. Grass roofed bus shelters are being created in West Lothian as part of a five year drive to create a more bio-diverse landscape. The scheme grasses over flat shelter roofs and adds a natural green island into otherwise urban landscapes, as well as encouraging flora and fauna The bus shelters have already been introduced to Winchburgh - with grassed roofs which hopefully by the end of the summer will provide a verdant canopy under which travellers can wait for public transport. Tom Conn, the Chair of the Environment and Sustainability PDSP called it 'an innovation of how we can co-exist with nature.' An ecology and biodiversity officer for the council told the meeting: 'The idea is hopefully a small area of green roof provides a habitat for pollinators using infrastructure that's already there.' The two test shelters will be monitored over the summer and depending on their success, living roof bus shelters could be rolled out across the county as old bus shelters are replaced. The council is also undertaking a £60,000 urban tree planting scheme which will see over 1500 trees planted. A report to the committee by Ecology and Biodiversity officer Hannah Crow outlined details of the urban tree scheme. 'Following a successful bid to Future Woodlands Scotland, WLC has been awarded over £60,000 for a major urban tree planting project aimed at creating long-term environmental and well-being benefits. 'Over 1,500 trees will be planted over the next three years in parks, residential areas, streets, and school grounds, bringing visible nature into people's daily lives.' She added: 'Focusing on areas with the greatest need the project will connect green networks, improve biodiversity, and increase tree canopy cover in neighbourhoods where it's currently lacking. 'Local residents, schools, and community groups will be invited to take part in planting events, workshops, and maintenance activities, including a dedicated biodiversity and education strand for pupils. Public sessions and annual walks will offer practical learning and highlight the value of trees.'
