GBVF Criminal Justice Inquiry: Submission Deadline Extended

Posted 14 August 2026 Written by Acts Online
Category Justice

Brought to you by SA Legal Academy: The deadline to submit written and oral inputs to the joint national inquiry into the criminal justice system’s response to gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) has been extended to 11 September 2026.

Conducted jointly in terms of their constitutional mandates by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE), and the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Rights Commission), the inquiry assesses institutional performance aligned with Pillar 3 of the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (2020).

Scope of Phase 1

The first phase of the inquiry evaluates operational bottlenecks, procedural compliance, and systemic failures across the criminal justice pipeline, focusing specifically on:

  • Incident reporting procedures and initial response mechanisms at law enforcement stations;
  • Availability, accessibility, and adequacy of victim support services;
  • The criminal investigation process and evidentiary handling; and
  • Pre-trial functioning, bail proceedings, and institutional accountability.

Submissions are sought from legal practitioners, survivor support organisations, civil society bodies, and members of the public who have direct experience with pre-trial and reporting processes in GBVF matters.

What this means for you, your business, or your clients

  • For yourself: Legal practitioners and criminal litigation specialists can submit practical evidence and procedural recommendations regarding institutional bottlenecks in GBVF matters before 11 September 2026.
  • For your business: Law practices, pro bono clinics, and advisory firms dealing with family law, protection orders, or criminal defence/prosecution can compile caseload data to inform systemic reform proposals.
  • For your clients: Corporate and institutional clients managing workplace harassment policies, as well as NGO clients supporting victims, should prepare submissions highlighting operational deficiencies in police stations and magistrate courts.

Originally published at https://legalacademy.co.za/news/read/gender-based-violence-femicide-call-for-input-to-joint-national-inquiry

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