How to Prevent Gender-Based Violence in South Africa
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South Africa is at a crucial crossroads when it comes to gender equality. While we’ve made great strides in the past few decades in terms of women’s rights and education, violence against women remains a pandemic problem. South Africa has one of the highest incidences of gender-based violence in the world. Gender-based violence is an act of aggression that aims to control or subjugate another person based on their gender. In most instances, this type of violence is perpetrated against women by men. According to statistics from the Violence Against Women in South Africa report published by NISER, 65% of all women who are murdered are killed by their intimate partner; there are more than 70,000 cases of child abuse annually, and half a million rapes occur every year as well. This article explores six ways you can prevent gender-based violence in South Africa, while also raising awareness and helping victims recover after such a traumatic experience.
Educate young people about gender equality
Until around the age of 15, most people are still unaware of the realities of gender-based violence in our country, and many of them even believe that such violence is normal. Therefore, it is important to educate young people about issues of gender equality from a young age. Awareness and knowledge about gender-based violence can be taught to children through parent workshops, school lessons, and youth programmes.
Provide support for women and girls who are victims of abuse
There are so many victims of gender-based violence who are not in a position to seek help from government institutions or NGOs due to financial constraints, social stigma, or other reasons. Therefore, you should extend support to women and girls who are victims of abuse and try to create a safe environment for them to combat such violence. You can also partner with NGOs and centres that provide support to women who are victims of gender-based violence. Educating the general public about the issue of gender-based violence can also help create an atmosphere that encourages people to help victims of such violence.
Create a safe environment for women to combat gender-based violence
A lot of the gender-based violence cases that occur in our country happen in private spaces, like homes. Therefore, you can make it a priority to create a safe environment for women to live and work without fear of violence. Create awareness programmes, institute a non-violence policy in public spaces, and install surveillance systems in public buildings to prevent harassment and violence against women. Educating the public about the issue of gender-based violence can also help create a safe environment for women to work in public spaces.
Enforce stricter and more equitable laws against gender-based violence
Although a lot of gender-based violence cases are prosecuted under Section 282 of the South African Penal Code, which relates to “aggravated sexual assault”, many victims are hesitant to report such cases to the authorities for various reasons. Therefore, you can enforce stricter laws against gender-based violence, and make it easier for victims to report such cases to the police. You can also look into implementing a gender-sensitive legal aid service to help financially support women who are victims of gender-based violence in our country.
Create programmes that help prevent recidivism for perpetrators of gender-based violence
Victims of gender-based violence almost always suffer from severe trauma that interferes with their daily lives. When victims of such violence move to a new town or city, they are often unaware of the services available to help them recover after such a traumatic experience. Therefore, you can create programmes that help prevent perpetrators of gender-based violence from committing such crimes again. You can also try to educate the general public about the issue of gender-based violence and create a safe environment for women to live in.
Conclusion
The truth is that gender-based violence is a global phenomenon that occurs everywhere in the world, regardless of the level of economic development society has reached. This means that the the prevention of violence against women is an issue that requires global efforts, regardless of the level of development a country has attained. And, South Africa is no exception. For us to effectively prevent gender-based violence, we must first educate young people about gender equality, provide support for women and girls who are victims of abuse, create a safe environment for women to live without fear of violence, enforce stricter and more equitable laws against gender-based violence, create programmes that help prevent recidivism for perpetrators of gender-based violence, and last but not least educate the general public about the issue of gender-based violence.
