South African women still face gaps in constitutional rights, Amnesty International says
More than three decades after the end of apartheid, millions of women and girls in South Africa are still unable to fully enjoy the rights guaranteed by the country’s Constitution, according to Amnesty International.
The organization says women continue to face serious challenges involving safety, dignity, poverty, economic inequality and access to essential services. Amnesty International has urged the government to strengthen accountability and turn constitutional commitments into concrete improvements in women’s daily lives.
Official police figures recorded 9,782 rape cases between January and March 2026, with almost half taking place in the home of either the victim or the alleged perpetrator. Gender inequalities are also evident in the labor market, with women experiencing higher unemployment rates than men and remaining disproportionately represented in informal and vulnerable employment.
A national study by South Africa’s Human Sciences Research Council found that 33.1% of adult women had experienced physical violence, while 9.8% had experienced sexual violence.
The figures come despite efforts to strengthen the country’s institutional response to gender-based violence. A national council dedicated to gender-based violence and femicide was established under a legal framework that came into effect in 2024.
Amnesty International argues that stronger implementation, better public services and greater accountability are essential to ensure that constitutional guarantees translate into real improvements in women’s safety, equality and access to basic services.
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