South African Youth Gender Action Plan

The South African Youth Gender Action Plan (SA YGAP) is a framework developed by youth aged 13-30 to address systemic gender inequalities in South Africa. It proposes specific interventions across seven pillars: education, health, safety, gender-based violence (GBV), identity and sexuality, the public/private sector, and sustainable transformation. Key demands include the national adoption of inclusive school policies, the provision of free menstrual products, the recognition of obstetric violence as a form of homicide, and the integration of marginalised genders into 'Just Transition' climate policies. The plan emphasizes an intersectional approach to dismantle patriarchal and heteronormative structures affecting women, youth, and the LGBTQIA+ community.

• The South African education system is described as a heteronormative space that enforces patriarchal and misogynistic norms. The authors call for the national adoption of the Western Cape Education Department's 2020 provincial Gender Policy Draft and the implementation of gender-neutral 'multiform' school policies.
• Healthcare in South Africa is noted to predominantly cater to cisgender, heterosexual males, leaving the needs of women and marginalised genders under-researched. Specific gaps identified include a lack of awareness regarding conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), fibroids, and endometriosis, as well as a lack of affordable gender-affirming care.
• Period poverty is a significant issue in South Africa, with approximately seven million menstruators lacking access to sanitary products, which leads to missed school or work. The plan demands free menstrual products in public spaces and schools, and monthly allowances for tertiary students.
• The document highlights the prevalence of obstetric violence and demands that the Department of Health hold professionals accountable. It further argues that obstetric violence should be recognized as a form of homicide under South African criminal law.
• Gender-Based Violence (GBV) remains critical, with the South African Police Service (SAPS) described as a 'hostile and unsafe space' lacking unbiased skills. The plan recommends the use of the Remote Offered Skill Building Application (ROSA) for sensitivity training and the creation of public registries for domestic violence perpetrators.
• LGBTQIA+ individuals face systemic homophobia and specific forms of violence, such as 'corrective rape' and 'conversion therapies.' The plan calls for the expansion of unisex facilities in clinics and hospitals and the revision of the Grade 7-9 history curriculum to include the impact of the LGBTQIA+ community.
• In the economic sector, there is a noted disparity in STEM careers, where women make up only 13%. The plan also highlights that young black women are the most vulnerable demographic in the labour market, with unemployment rates for those aged 15-34 reaching 61% and 39.9% respectively.
• Climate change and natural disasters, such as the 2022 KZN floods, disproportionately affect marginalised genders due to unequal resource access and limited decision-making power. The plan insists that 'Just Transition' policies prioritise substantive equality and provide micro-financing for women-led farming groups.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2023). South African Youth Gender Action Plan. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SA-YGAP_English.pdf

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. South African Youth Gender Action Plan. 2023. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SA-YGAP_English.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=South African Youth Gender Action Plan |date=25 August 2023 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SA-YGAP_English.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2023south, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{South African Youth Gender Action Plan}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2023}, month = aug, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SA-YGAP_English.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }