GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AND FEMICIDE (GBVF) PROGRAM

About Gender-based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) Programme

Gender-based violence is still a big problem, even though there are varieties of stakeholders who work day by day to mitigate it. The South African Government has shown a very strong political will to prevent and to fight GBVF amongst others, through the adoption of the National Strategic Plan on Gender-based Violence & Femicide 2020-2030. Our project is aiming at eliminating and prevention of all forms of violence against women, children and LGBTQIA+ people.

South Africa has a high rate of gender-based violence. There have been so many cases of sexual and gender-based violence in the past years and even today in South Africa and the world in general. Unfortunately, it is the women and the children who end up suffering extremely since they are the vulnerable groups. However, history keeps repeating itself and so this problem has never ended. Gender Based Victims continue suffering in silence while the perpetrator goes unpunished. Violence against women violates the enjoyment by women and children of their human rights.

We have designed a holistic GBVF programme which is focusing on responding to all gender-based violence and Femicide. Our programme is specifically focusing on violence against women and children (across age, physical location, disability, sexual orientation, sexual and gender identity, gender expression, nationality and other diversities). Widespread gender norms, which associate masculinity with strength and dominance encourage and permit the continuation of violence against women, children and LGBTQIA + people in South Africa, and across the continent. These norms permit all levels of society – families, schools, communities, workplaces and the justice system. Gender norms that permit violence also encourage men to have multiple sexual partners, forgot protection like condom use. As a result men often become unaware transmitters of HIV and other Sexual Transmitted Infections (STIs). Our activities that we render are in line with Pillar Two (Prevention and Rebuilding of Social Cohesion) of the National Strategic Plan on GBVF 2020-2030. We are achieving our objectives by conducting prevention and rebuilding of social cohesion activities, in a form of community dialogues, awareness campaigns, trauma counselling and referrals and support groups for survivors of GBVF.

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Community GBVF Dialogues

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Our community dialogue was developed to promote community advocacy around Gender-based Violence (GBVF) and to encourage community members and influential leaders to collectively discuss their concerns, exchange ideas, and develop key messages that promote a safe environment for women and children. It is a forum for community members to discuss community problems face-to-face, identify their root causes and consequences, and develop local solutions. It also a participatory and interactive discussion that focuses people’s attention on a particular issue or challenge and encourages them to share their views about it, as well as their ideas on what should be done about it.

During the process, individuals and the group can also identify actions that can be taken to address the issue, as well as priorities that should be addressed with other stakeholders and influential leaders at the community level. Our dialogue sessions have been selected as the primary method to engage communities to encourage open and free discussion and diverse opinions in the process of communal problem solving around issues of GBV.

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Trauma Counselling

Trauma can be best defined as the aftermath of an event that has been particularly jarring for someone. Apart from being life-threatening, trauma can be physically and emotionally harmful. In some cases, it may take a toll on your psychological health, and the best way to deal with it is through counselling.

Observations made in conflict/post-conflict areas indicate that survivors of GBV are suffering from a greater trauma. The consequences of the assault such as hiding the rape from friends and family or telling friends and family, going to the clinic or going to court – represents on-going stressful events and crises. The psychological trauma of GBV leaves lasting scars, and survivors may struggle with depression and are at higher risk for suicide. GBV also deprives the community of productive women and girls, who would otherwise be working and contributing to the well-being of other community members.

When a traumatic incident starts to disrupt your day-to-day functioning and impacts your daily life negatively, it may be time to seek the expertise of a professional. Seeking an experienced trauma therapist may prove to be quite beneficial, especially if you are experiencing

• Repeated flashbacks

• Anxiety or fear

• Frequent nightmares or troubled sleep

• Isolation

Get in touch and talk with our qualified and committed staff to help you face the challenges you might be experiencing.