Cumulative protection order requests, malignant prevalence and incidence rates, escalating death tolls, socio-economic hierarchy, patriarchy, ignorance as well as normative inequality practices, are but some of the effects and symptoms of South Africa’s perpetual pandemic - Gender-based violence (GBV).
Whilst GBV is a global phenomenon, South Africa has consistently held the position for the highest number of reported cases for violence against women and femicide - often up to five times higher than the global average [as stated by the World Health Organisation, 2016 report]. A 2010 Gauteng sample had recorded that approximately 51% of woman report to have experienced GBV, whilst 76% of men agree to have enacted a form of GBV in their lifetime. Moreover, the South African Police Services crime statistics for the 2019/20 period have recorded around 53 293 reported sexual offences, the majority of which were rape cases (42 289 cases). During the national lockdown, there were 2 300 GBV cases reported in the first week, whilst 21 women and children were murdered within the first two weeks. Whilst these statistics are alarming, they are not the true representations of GBV statistics as majority of these go unreported.
GBV is not novel, rather it is systemic and deeply entrenched in our institutions, cultures as well as traditional ideologies and practices in South Africa. Whilst it does affect all South Africans, including males, the LGBTQIA+ community as well as other marginalised bodies, it statistically and disproportionately affects women and girls more. GBV 'pervades the political, economic and social structures of society and is driven by strongly patriarchal social norms and complex and intersectional power inequalities, including those of gender, race, class and sexuality.' (Cornelius et al., 2014). The normative role expectations and inequitable power relationships between genders are contributing factors towards violence against women, girls and the LGBTQIA+ community as well as toward intimate partner violence, domestic violence, sexual violence and indirect violence.
Victims and survivors are often scared, embarrassed or confused after their traumatic ordeals. They don’t know who to confide in, where to go or what to do - due to the indelible trauma or societal judgement. Whilst there are countless NPO’s/NGO’s or anti-GBV activist movements, there needs to be active participation on all levels (at the grassroots, local governments and institutions, civil society to our national leadership). We all need to do our part to create safer spaces. There is a lot we can all do as a nation, such as actively practicing gender equality in our households, classrooms and workplace instead of hiding behind cultural and hierarchical beliefs. However, the smallest step we can take as human beings is to practice empathy, respect all life and normalise having these conversations!
If we don’t, then our Constitution and Bill of Rights becomes an abstract concept, existing as decoration on paper; the right to life will be rendered nugatory and hope for humanity will remain a mirage in the desert.
Glossary:
1. Cumulative: Increasing or increased in quantity by successive additions.
2. Malignant: Virulent or evil in nature of effect.
3. Socio-economic: relating to or concerned with the interaction of social and economic factors
6. Patriarchy: A system of society or government in which men hold the power and viewed as the dominant gender.
7: Femicide: The killing of women and girls, in particular by a man and on account of her gender.
8: Novel: interestingly new or unusual.
9: LGBTQIA+: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questionable, Intersex, Asexual and other communities.
10. Indelible: Not able to be forgotten.
11: Nugatory: Of no value or importance, useless or futile.
Reference cited:
1. Cornelius R., T. Shahrokh and E. Mills. Coming Together to End Gender Violence: Report of Deliberative Engagements with Stakeholders on the Issue of Collective Action to Address Sexual and Gender-based Violence, and the Role of Men and Boys. Evidence Report, 2014. 12 (February), Institute of Development Studies.
Note:
*Due to Gender-based violence (GBV) existing as a multi-faceted topic, possessing numerous root causes and contributing factors as well as occurring in a myriad of forms, we have decided to do tackle this issue in a 3-part blog piece.
We have complied a resource support booklet with some organisations established to support victims and survivors of GBV. There are also some local anti-GBV activist groups which you can support and engage with.
Resource pack:
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