Bridging the gap between rights and custom: addressing gender-based violence in the Eastern Cape

This policy brief recommends legislative and policy interventions at both national and provincial levels of government. First, constitutional and customary legal systems should be aligned to ensure that cultural practices are not applied in ways that perpetuate GBV. Second, adopting community-centred approaches that harmonize cultural practices with the safety rights and access to justice for victims is essential for effectively addressing GBV in the Eastern Cape.