Introduction
Globally, more than one in three women (35.6%) aged 15 and over have experienced physical and/or sexual
partner violence, or sexual violence (SV) by a non-partner. The evidence is incontrovertible – violence
against women is a profound human rights violation of epidemic proportions. South Africa is no exception.
Recently published population-based surveys show especially high levels of intimate partner violence (IPV)
and SV, with IPV being the most common form of violence against women (VAW).
South Africa has a strong legislative and policy framework aligned with international conventions that seeks
to protect and empower women, as well as a comprehensive set of government programmes and dynamic
civil society organisations (CSOs). However, despite these conducive factors, to date interventions to prevent
and respond to VAW have had limited impact and gaps exist.
For the purpose of this study, the term VAW is used to encompass IPV and non-partner SV as these are by far
the most common forms of VAW in South Africa. The study uses the World Report on Violence and Health’s
definitions of IPV and SV as they are commonly used in research.