Gender Research & Advocacy (GRAP) - Legal Assistance Centre

Overview

The Gender Research & Advocacy Project seeks to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women and children through legal research, law reform and related advocacy work.

Noteworthy reads on Gender issues in April 2024

Body of baby discovered at Walvis Bay dump Police under pressure to arrest father of dumped baby
Man arrested for kidnapping child
Woman arrested for assaulting and raping son (9)
Pensioner (87) arrested over rape of grandchild
SPYL leader calls for the protection of children
Police urge public to report child abuse
Ex-police officer to admit murder of former partner
Leaders address GBV amid cultural concerns
Residents urged to avoid giving money to street children

Goals

The following are the key goals of the project:

To conduct research aimed at assessing the effectiveness of existing laws in serving the needs of women and men and making proposals for new laws where necessary
To encourage and facilitate law reform
To increase public involvement in the law reform process
To raise public awareness of new and existing laws and the underlying issues they address
To provide training materials and training of trainers for key service providers involved in the implementation of gender-related laws
To ensure that gender concerns are incorporated into programmes aimed at good governance and improved social welfare

Overview of GR&AP

GR&AP was established as a department of the LAC in February 1993.

GR&AP has produced extensive research reports in areas including gender-based violence, family law, sex work and LGBT rights. We have worked with the government’s Law Reform and Development Commission and various government ministries to assist with the drafting of numerous pieces of legislation, including the Combating of Rape Act 8 of 2000, Combating of Domestic Violence Act 4 of 2003, Maintenance Act 9 of 2003 and Child Care and Protection Act 3 of 2015. We have provided influential input on specific aspects of other draft bills. The role of GR&AP in influencing law reform on gender-related issues has been repeatedly acknowledged by governmental and public bodies.

GR&AP has also produced a large number of educational materials in a variety of media, including booklets, comic books, newspaper and magazine articles, films, short animations, training DVDs for service providers, radio broadcasts, posters, murals on school walls and PowerPoint presentations.

GR&AP has excellent relationships with governmental bodies and other NGOs, and often works in collaboration with other groups. GR&AP has a good relationship with Parliament and with a range of government agencies, whilst retaining the necessary independence to be critical when necessary. Many government agencies have recognised the expertise available at GR&AP and have responded well to past advocacy. The government’s Law Reform and Development Commission, for example, has repeatedly acknowledged the role of GR&AP’s research in influencing its law reform proposals, and GR&AP has worked in close partnership with a range of government ministries and agencies to help shape gender laws and policy. Research performed by GR&AP is often utilised and publicly acknowledged by the government.

Meet the staff of GR&AP

You can find an OVERVIEW of GR&AP publications here.

To learn more about the activities of GR&AP, read our annual updates:

• 2022 GR&AP Annual Update
• 2021 GR&AP Annual Update
• 2020 GR&AP Annual Update
• 2019 GR&AP Annual Update
• 2018 GR&AP Annual Update
• 2017 GR&AP Annual Update
• 2016 GR&AP Annual Update
• 2015 GR&AP Annual Update
• 2014 GR&AP Annual Update
• 2013 GR&AP Annual Update
• 2012 GR&AP Annual Update
• 2011 GR&AP Annual Update
• 2010 GR&AP Annual Update
• 2009 GR&AP Annual Update
• 2008 GR&AP Annual Update
• 2007 GR&AP Annual Update
• 2006 GR&AP Annual Update

For overviews of the past work of GR&AP, see

this 2018 article and poster on the project’s 25th anniversary
this 2013 article and this 2013 publication on the project’s 20th anniversary
this 2003 article on the project’s 10th anniversary
this 1998 article on the project’s 5th anniversary

GR&AP also circulated an overview of its work in this newspaper supplement, which was published in 2006.

In February 2018, GR&AP celebrated its 25th birthday as a project of the Legal Assistance Centre. To mark the occasion, we issued a press release and made a poster highlighting some of our many publications over the years.