The conviction of criminals was one of the biggest problems facing the country, Safety and Security Minister Susan Shabangu said on Monday.

"The success rate of the police should not only be based on the number of arrests made. We've done good arrests," she said.

"I think the biggest challenge we have is to make sure those individuals are convicted because some of those people are acquitted."

Shabangu was speaking at the Union Buildings at a briefing on the 16 days of activism campaign against women and child abuse.

"There are a lot of acquittals," she continued, adding that this needed to be looked at and should it be that there were "gaps" in the process, that more police officers be trained.

It was important for the police to know what was "expected of them" when it came to issues involving child and women abuse.

"It's important that every police officer is able to render a service to women and children."

Deputy Minister for Provincial and Local Government Nomatyala Hangana, the convenor of the campaign, said that one way of reducing violence against women and children was by reducing the levels of alcohol and drug abuse in communities.

"There is enough evidence at our disposal showing that the abuse and alcohol and drugs contribute towards the high levels of women and child abuse," said Hangana.

Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Fatima Hajaig said that guarding against women and child abuse was the "responsibility of everyone".

Hangana said abuse against women and children was an issue that called for a change in behaviour.

"It is something that cannot be dealt with in terms of policy formulation or by simply enacting laws."

The campaign starts on 25 November and ends on 10 December.

Sapa