16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children – 25 November-10 December 2024

16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children – 25 November-10 December 2024

All it takes

By Leonie Vorster, Trauma and Violence Division Executive Committee Member

If you talk to just three children and three women in South Africa, you are highly likely, statistically speaking, to come face-to-face with gender-based violence (GBV). Long after the six conversations, two survivors and those close to them will be living with the impact of GBV, while the perpetrators reoffend, unchallenged and unchanged.

GBV (violence perpetrated against any person based on their gender) can lead to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, obsessive behaviour, compulsions, anger, antisocial behaviour, anxiety, stress, depression, dissociation, self-injury, body issues, gastro-intestinal issues, somatic complaints, substance abuse, relationship issues, sexual difficulties, and a host of serious physical and psychological disorders (Vorster, 2021).

Addressing the scourge of GBV does not lie with the one in three survivors, though they are a stark, statistical reminder that we are failing to tackle GBV. Health professionals are justified in supporting GBV survivors and, understandably, that is where the focus has been. However, helping the perpetrators of GBV is the best way to prevent GBV, and we have failed at this (Vorster, 2021).

Working with perpetrators of violence against women and children can be challenging, and prevention is complex. Perpetrators often have gender role strain issues, resorting to violence to cope with feelings of inadequacy (Baugher, 2015). Furthermore, violence against women and violence against children intersect, emphasising the need for collaborative efforts to address both (UNICEF, 2024). The definition and acceptability of what constitutes GBV also varies significantly across diverse cultures and contexts, underscoring the importance of culturally sensitive approaches in research, intervention, and prevention programmes (Perrin et al., 2019). Nonetheless, exposure to various forms of violence has adverse health outcomes for victims, regardless of cultural context (Rivara et al., 2019).

Interventions based on “naming and shaming” perpetrators may not be effective in reducing violence or enhancing safety for women and children. Arguably, isolating perpetrators (as opposed to reintegrating them) can reinforce negative self-perceptions and perpetuate violent behaviour. In contrast, approaches that focus on holding perpetrators accountable in a way that encourages rehabilitation and offers alternative, non-violent models of behaviour are more promising when it comes to prevention (Camp, 2019).

What will it take to create a world free from violence towards women and children?

Effective prevention requires multi-sectoral approaches, community involvement, and long-term strategies; addressing underlying social drivers like gender inequality, harmful societal norms, and patriarchal values; psychological health interventions, parenting programmes for perpetrators, and reducing reoffending; and policy changes, systemic thinking, and system-wide interventions (Fernández-Conde et al., 2024).

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence annual international campaign kicks off on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day. This year’s campaign theme is UNITE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls. The campaign calls on citizens to show how much they care about ending violence against women and girls by sharing the actions they are taking to create a world free from violence towards women. This year’s campaign also calls on governments worldwide to share how they are investing in gender-based violence prevention.

There is #NoExcuse.

World Trauma Day – 17 October 2024

World Trauma Day – 17 October 2024

World Trauma Day

Trauma is a significant contributor to disability and mental disorders, as highlighted by the World Health Organization (WHO, 2023), which reports approximately 5 million deaths annually due to violence and trauma. Low- and middle-income countries bear a disproportionate burden of trauma-related fatalities and injuries. In South Africa, the lifetime prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) stands at 2.3% among the general population (Swain, Pillay, & Kleiwer, 2017). Trauma manifests as an emotional response to events perceived as life-threatening, causing extreme distress and compromising an individual’s bodily and psychological well-being (Hatcher et al., 2019). Such experiences can adversely affect personal functioning, relationships, and occupational performance, leading to various mental health challenges. The impact of trauma intensifies when access to care and treatment is limited, a situation faced by many South Africans living amidst high levels of violence and insufficient mental health resources (Kola et al., 2021). South Africa’s reality is marked by pervasive violence and trauma, compounded by a lack of accessible mental health services, particularly for those affected by socio-economic disparities (Felitti et al., 2019). This vulnerability, rooted in the nation’s traumatic history of racial division, exacerbates mental health disorders. Unaddressed trauma risks further perpetuating cycles of suffering, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions. Addressing this issue requires a comprehensive approach to reduce violence and promote mental health support across various societal sectors, ultimately fostering hope for a more equitable future.

Reference list

Hatcher AM, Gibbs A, Jewkes R, McBride R-S, Peacock D, Christofides N. Effect of childhood poverty and trauma on adult depressive symptoms among young men in peri-urban south african settlements. J Adolesc Health. 2019;64(1):79–85.

Kola L, Kohrt BA, Hanlon C, Naslund JA, Sikander S, Balaji M, et al. COVID-19 mental health impact and responses in low-income and middle-income countries: reimagining global mental health. The Lancet Psychiatry. 2021;8(6):535–50.

Felitti VJ, Anda RF, Nordenberg D, Williamson DF, Spitz AM, Edwards V, et al. Reprint of: relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults: the adverse childhood experiences (ACE) study. Am J Prev Med. 2019;56(6):774–86.

Swain, K. D., Pillay, B. J., & Kliewer, W. (2017). Traumatic stress and psychological functioning in a South African adolescent community sample. South African Journal of Psychiatry, 23.

World Health Organisation (WHO). (2024). Injuries and violence. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/injuries-and-violence

Fighting Gender-Based Violence, 100 Days at a Time

Fighting Gender-Based Violence, 100 Days at a Time

The End Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) Movement is tasked with implementing the National Strategic Plan on GBVF, aimed at addressing the GBVF epidemic in South Africa.

What is Gender-based violence? Gender-based violence refers to violence that occurs due to role expectations related to the gender associated with the sex assigned to a person at birth, and the unequal power relations between the genders in the context of a specific society. This type of violence can include physical, economic, sexual, psychological, and economic abuse as well as rape, sexual harassment, and trafficking of women for sex, and sexual exploitation.

What is the National Strategic Plan on GBVF? The plan is divided into six focus areas (i.e., pillars for accountability, coordination, and leadership; prevention and re-building social cohesion; justice, safety, and protection; research and information management; economic power; and response, care, support, and healing), with problem analysis, strategic principles, and key deliverables guiding the work of each pillar.

Since 2021, this multi-sectoral collective has been applying a 100-Day Challenge approach to effect change in a selection of the thirty GBVF hotspots in South Africa. The approach is time-bound and makes use of intense collaboration, frequent innovation, and rapid implementation. Based on learnings from crises that were successfully resolved, 100-Day Challenges are fast, and set goals that are almost impossible to achieve. The right team is assembled and committed to the goal, and the work plan evolves as the days go by, with experimentation built into the process. The End GBVF Movement 100-Day Challenges have had significant successes.

For example, in 2023 the Mossel Bay End GBVF 100-Day Challenge team established four hotlines and helpdesks in police stations to provide reliable, safe spaces for victims of GBV. Another example was the Domestic Violence teams who improved the finalisation rate of Domestic Violence cases in participating Limpopo courts from 42% to 78%.

This year, the focus is on providing victim-friendly courts. Municipalities, courts, and TVET Colleges are working together in Limpopo and Mpumalanga, with Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), the South African Local Government Agency (SALGA), Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), and the Justice sector as convenors of the 100-Day Challenges. This first cycle of End GBVF 100-Day Challenges finishes in August 2024.

To Find Out More

Read about the End GBVF Movement activities and opportunities to join the fight against GBVF in the next TVD newsletter

Fighting Gender-Based Violence, 100 Days at a Time

Addressing Trauma Associated with Natural Disasters among Mental Health Practitioners

by Bianca Barnard

Over the last month, South Africans have grappled with the aftermath of natural disasters, from flooding in the Eastern Cape, a series of tornadoes in KwaZulu-Natal and a 2.5 magnitude earthquake in Johannesburg and the West Rand. These acts of God create a real and perceived sense of insecurity and instability in South African society, communities, and patients. Still, the impact on mental health practitioners is often forgotten.

Practitioners form part of the communities devastated by natural disasters. Unfortunately, registration as a mental health practitioner does not provide immunity to the psychological impact of the loss of safety and security and a gained sense of fear and anguish. As with a patient, there is a need to rebuild a sense of stability and safety by addressing basic needs and initiating the trauma recovery process. However, more intervention is often needed. Given the responsibility to care for others, mental health practitioners must attend to their own psychological health.

These periods of disaster create an increased demand for mental health services, longer working hours, and increased patient loads. This leaves practitioners susceptible to burnout and compassion fatigue. Psychologists also experience the secondary trauma of working with patients who have been victims of loss.

While the onus remains on mental health practitioners to prioritise their own mental health, it can be challenging. Some helpful tips on navigating these are as follows:

  • Acknowledge your humanness and put in place professional boundaries. Where possible, take leave to give yourself sufficient time and space to address the material reality and process what has happened. Do not over-commit yourself or continually place the needs of others before your need for self-care.
  • Try to limit working in a silo. Where possible and appropriate, utilise an MDT and share the load of patient management with colleagues. Connecting with peers, colleagues, and supervisors will also help mental health practitioners avoid feeling isolated, a feeling commonly experienced due to the private nature of our work.
  • Use the source of support available to you – be that a supervisor, peer group, psychologist or faith group – to ground yourself and recreate a sense of stability.

 

Fighting Gender-Based Violence, 100 Days at a Time

ENDING GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AND FEMICIDE IN SOUTH AFRICA

Gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), including violence against women, girls, and LGBTQIA+ people, intimate partner violence, domestic violence, sexual violence, and structural violence, is widespread in South Africa. In the last quarter of 2023 alone, more than 12,200 rapes were reported to the police, and the femicide rate in South Africa is more than five times the global average.

The End GBVF Movement

A multi-sectoral structure called the End GBVF Collective was formed in 2020 to coordinate the implementation of the National Strategic Plan (NSP) on Gender-Based Violence in South Africa. The national strategy seeks to urgently respond to victims and survivors of GBVF, broaden access to justice for survivors, change social norms and behaviour, strengthen existing architecture, promote accountability, and create more economic opportunities for women who are vulnerable to abuse because of poverty.

PsySSA has been part of the structure since 2022, with government, civil society, labour, private sector, research, academic, and development partners working together as part of this integrated national response to GBVF. From last year, the activities of the End GBVF Collective is referred to under the umbrella of the End GBV Movement, to reflect the growing number of organisations and individuals involved.

Opportunities to Get Involved

Opportunities for TVD members to join the End GBVF Movement and the fight against GBVF will be identified in this and upcoming issues of the TVD newsletter. Here are the first two opportunities to get you started:

  • Complete the free GBVF 101 Course

GBVF 101 – Safeguarding is a free e-learning course that introduces the context and concepts of GBVF in South Africa and creates awareness and sensitivity about the complexity of GBVF and helping survivors. The aim of the course is to facilitate shared language to communicate clearly and efficiently about GBVF, and to ensure no harm is caused when working collectively in the GBVF sector. The course comprises nine stand-alone lessons with content, exercises, and additional readings. And if you have any feedback about or suggestions for improvement to the course, contact the training team on info@theworldofimpact.org.

  • Sign up for the GBVF Health Check

The GBVF Maturity Health Check is a tool that helps workplaces in South Africa evaluate (quarterly) their behaviours, policies, and practices related to GBVF. If you work for or with an organisation that wants to do better, this developmental tool is what you need. Organisations use the tool to track their progress, identify improvements needed, and align with good practices, to ensure the workplace is a safe place. Participation in the current quarter ends on 24 May 2024.

To Find Out More

  • Contact Leonie (leonie@leonievorster.co.za), who represents PsySSA in the End GBVF Collective
  • Visit the End GBVF Movement website and the FAQ section
  • Follow the End GBVF Movement on social media
  • Read about the End GBVF Movement activities and more opportunities to join the fight against GBVF in the following TVD newsletter!