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Gender-Based Violence

Break the Silence, Build a Safer Future

Gender-based violence is a global issue that affects individuals of all genders, ages, and backgrounds. Both women and men experience gender-based violence but the majority of victims are women and girls. It's time to raise awareness, educate ourselves, and take a stand against this pervasive problem.

Forms of Gender-Based Violence include:

  1. Physical Violence: acts of physical harm, such as hitting, kicking, slapping, or any form of physical aggression targeting an individual based on their gender.
  2. Sexual Violence: comprises of rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, and any unwanted sexual contact or advances imposed on someone against their will or consent.
  3. Psychological and Emotional Abuse: manipulating, intimidating, or threatening someone emotionally, leading to severe psychological trauma, low self-esteem, and emotional instability.
  4. Economic Abuse: controlling someone's financial resources, restricting their access to money, and denying them economic independence.

Together, we can make a difference. Let's break the cycle of violence and build a society where everyone feels safe, respected, and equal. 

Side B

Gender-based violence is an insidious issue that leaves a lasting impact on individuals, families, and societies. At its core, gender-based violence is a violation of human rights. It leaves survivors with deep emotional scars and physical injuries that can take years to heal.

The Impact of Gender-Based Violence:

  1. Physical and Emotional Trauma: Gender-based violence causes severe physical injuries and long-term emotional trauma, leading to anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
  2. Social Consequences: Survivors of gender-based violence may experience strained relationships, isolation, and difficulties forming and maintaining healthy connections with others.
  3. Economic Consequences: Gender-based violence often results in financial exploitation, limited employment opportunities, and economic dependency, continuing cycles of poverty and inequality.

Understanding the impact of gender-based violence is vital in driving change and a commitment to ending it. By recognizing its powerful effects on individuals, families, and communities, we can work together to break the cycle of violence and support survivors.

Helplines

Gender-Based Violence Command Centre
0800 428 428

STOP Gender Violence Helpline
0800 150 150/ *120*7867#

Halt Elder Abuse Line (Heal) – helpline for elderly people
Helpline: 0800 003 081
E-mail: action@actiononelderabusesa.co.za

Articles:

Article 1: Understanding Gender-Based Violence

Gender-based violence is a deeply rooted issue that affects individuals across the globe, regardless of their gender, age, or social background. It is violence directed against a person because of their gender. Both women and men experience gender-based violence but the majority of victims are women and girls.

Defining Gender-Based Violence:

Gender-based violence refers to any form of violence, coercion, or discrimination that occurs due to power imbalances between genders within society.

This violence often goes unseen, untreated, and unchecked. One way to begin correcting the injustice of violence against women is to understand the different types of violence that women experience and then look for ways to best address each type of violence.

Forms of Gender-Based Violence:

  1. Physical Violence: This includes acts of physical harm, such as hitting, kicking, slapping, or any form of physical aggression targeting an individual based on their gender.
  2. Sexual Violence: Sexual violence comprises rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, and any unwanted sexual contact or advances imposed on someone against their will or consent.
  3. Psychological and Emotional Abuse: Psychological abuse involves manipulating, intimidating, threatening, or manipulating someone emotionally, leading to severe psychological trauma, low self-esteem, and emotional instability.
  4. Economic Abuse: Economic abuse refers to controlling someone's financial resources, restricting their access to money, and denying them economic independence, often seen in situations of financial control within intimate relationships.
  5. Harmful Practices: Harmful practices, such as child marriage, forced marriage, female genital mutilation, and honour killings, are deeply rooted in cultural norms and traditions but perpetuate gender-based violence.

The Impact of Gender-Based Violence:

Gender-based violence has far-reaching consequences on individuals, families, and society as a whole. Its effects are not limited to physical injuries but also include severe psychological trauma, chronic health issues, reduced economic opportunities, disrupted education, and the continuation of gender inequality. Moreover, it creates a cycle of violence that can be passed down through generations unless addressed effectively.

Gender-based violence is a widespread issue that demands our collective attention and action. By understanding its forms and impact, we can work towards breaking the cycle of abuse and creating a world where everyone can live free from violence and discrimination. Together, we can build a society that values gender equality, respect, and the inherent dignity of every individual.

Emergency Helplines:

People Opposed to Woman Abuse (Powa)

Powa provides counselling, both over the phone and in person, temporary shelter for and legal help to women who have experienced violence.

Childline South Africa

This non-profit organisation helps abused children and their families with a free counselling service. It deals with issues such as physical and sexual abuse, substance abuse, behavioural problems and trafficking, and gives legal advice.

Families South Africa (Famsa)

Famsa provides counselling and education to help improve marriages and families. It helps in cases of domestic violence and trauma, divorces and mediation. There are 27 offices across the country.

 

Divercity has a zero-tolerance stance on GBV, conveying clear and proper communication to all direct and indirect employees, third-party contractors, and tenant communities. Our intent is to prevent, as much as feasibly possible, instances of gender-based violence, harassment, child labour, forced labour, and/or modern slavery within our properties and operations.

If you are in need of support, please refer to the Divercity Safeguarding Policy & Procedure document. You can access it via the Ninja Portal

Article 2: Taking Action Against Gender-Based Violence

To combat gender-based violence, it is crucial to foster a comprehensive approach involving individuals, communities, institutions, and policymakers. Some key strategies include:

  1. Raising Awareness: Increasing public awareness through education and campaigns to challenge stereotypes, promote gender equality, and condemn violence against any gender.
  2. Empowering Survivors: Providing support services, safe spaces, and counseling for survivors to heal, rebuild their lives, and regain their confidence and agency.
  3. Legal Protection: Strengthening legislation and policies that criminalize gender-based violence, protect survivors, and hold perpetrators accountable for their actions.
  4. Education and Prevention: Incorporating comprehensive sex education, consent education, and programs that promote healthy relationships and gender equality from an early age.
  5. Engaging Men and Boys: Encouraging men and boys to actively participate in the fight against gender-based violence, challenging harmful masculinity norms, and promoting healthy and respectful relationships.

It is vital to educate young children about gender equality so that they know from an early age that boys and girls are equals. More investment in programmes targeted at men is also important.

South Africa’s drinking population ranks high globally in terms of alcohol consumption and worse when it comes to harmful patterns of drinking and heavy binge drinking. Evidence shows that heavy drinking or frequent drinking by males, who are mostly perpetrators of gender-based violence, increases the risk of violence. Drinking increases aggressive behaviour, lack of control and the risk of committing acts of domestic violence and sexual violence.

These programmes could go a long way in assisting men to deal with their behavioural issues, manage conflict in healthier ways and change their mindsets for the better.

Combating gender-based violence is a multi-layered effort that requires a collective commitment to change. By educating ourselves, promoting gender equality, supporting survivors, engaging men and boys, advocating for stronger laws, fostering community engagement, addressing online violence, and encouraging corporate responsibility, we can make a significant impact. Together, let us create a world where every individual can live a life free from fear, violence, and discrimination.

Emergency Helplines:

People Opposed to Woman Abuse (Powa)

Powa provides counselling, both over the phone and in person, temporary shelter for and legal help to women who have experienced violence.

Childline South Africa

This non-profit organisation helps abused children and their families with a free counselling service. It deals with issues such as physical and sexual abuse, substance abuse, behavioural problems and trafficking, and gives legal advice.

Families South Africa (Famsa)

Famsa provides counselling and education to help improve marriages and families. It helps in cases of domestic violence and trauma, divorces and mediation. There are 27 offices across the country.

Tel: 011 975 7106/7

 

Divercity has a zero-tolerance stance on GBV, conveying clear and proper communication to all direct and indirect employees, third-party contractors, and tenant communities. Our intent is to prevent, as much as feasibly possible, instances of gender-based violence, harassment, child labour, forced labour, and/or modern slavery within our properties and operations.

If you are in need of support, please refer to the Divercity Safeguarding Policy & Procedure document. You can access it via the Ninja Portal

Article 3: The Impact of Gender-Based Violence

Gender-based violence is a human rights violation

It is an assault on human dignity, depriving people of their human rights. Freedom from violence is a fundamental human right, and gender-based violence undermines a person’s sense of self-worth and self-esteem. It affects not only physical health but also mental health and may lead to self-harm, isolation, depression and suicidal attempts.

Gender-based violence threatens a person’s physical and psychological integrity

Everyone has the right to feel safe and secure, and where this is not present, people’s ability to function in the family, community and society is likely to be impaired, as self-realisation and development are affected. Gender-based violence is an obstacle to every person’s well-being and to their right to fulfilment and self-development.

Gender-based violence is discrimination

It is deeply rooted in harmful stereotypes and prejudices against women or other people who do not fit into a traditional gender binary or heteronormative society. For that reason, gender-based violence can have the effect of pushing women and others who are affected to the margins of society and making them feel inferior or helpless. In the case of men who do not act according to dominant masculine gender roles, gender-based violence has the function of correction by example. The severity of the ‘punishment’ for men who do not act according to expectations concerning male gender roles is increased.

Gender-based violence is an obstacle to gender equality

Gender equality is central to safeguarding human rights, upholding democracy and preserving the rule of law. Gender-based violence contributes to a power imbalance and the power of men. Gender equality, on the other hand, means equal rights for people of all genders, as well as equal visibility, and equal opportunities for empowerment, taking responsibility and participating in all spheres of public and private life. Gender equality also implies equal access to, and equal distribution of resources between women and men.

Gender-based violence is under-reported and perpetrators are rarely brought to justice

Common myths, such as what happens at home should stay at home or that it is nobody’s business what happens in the family are very powerful. This makes speaking up about violence in the family difficult, and it may affect the ability to seek out help and support services. Sometimes it is more dangerous for the victim to leave . This can put the abused person in greater harm, with possibly fatal consequences. Furthermore, violence very often silences those who are affected by it.

Gender-based violence affects everyone

Children raised in families where a woman is abused are also victims of violence (sometimes not physically, but always psychologically). The children witness violence and may form the impression that such behaviour is justified or normal. They are also brought up in a culture of violence that may negatively affect their self-development and ability to function in society. Gender-based violence affects family members, friends and colleagues of the individual being abused.

Gender-based violence has a very heavy economic cost

It requires the involvement of different services - medical, psychological, the police or justice system – and it results in the loss of resources or of employment by victims. It makes people underachieve at work and in education, and it negatively affects their productivity. Many people who suffer from gender-based violence cannot stay at home and need a place to stay, which sometimes results in homelessness. 

Gender-based violence leaves a mark on individuals, families, and communities, continuing a cycle of harm and inequality. Recognizing the impact of this violence is essential for advocating change, supporting survivors, and fostering a society built on empathy, respect, and equality. Let us join forces to dismantle the systems that perpetuate gender-based violence and work towards a future free from oppression and violence for all.

Emergency Helplines:

People Opposed to Woman Abuse (Powa)

Powa provides counselling, both over the phone and in person, temporary shelter for and legal help to women who have experienced violence.

Childline South Africa

This non-profit organisation helps abused children and their families with a free counselling service. It deals with issues such as physical and sexual abuse, substance abuse, behavioural problems and trafficking, and gives legal advice.

Families South Africa (Famsa)

Famsa provides counselling and education to help improve marriages and families. It helps in cases of domestic violence and trauma, divorces and mediation. There are 27 offices across the country.

Tel: 011 975 7106/7 

Divercity has a zero-tolerance stance on GBV, conveying clear and proper communication to all direct and indirect employees, third-party contractors, and tenant communities. Our intent is to prevent, as much as feasibly possible, instances of gender-based violence, harassment, child labour, forced labour, and/or modern slavery within our properties and operations. 

If you are in need of support, please refer to the Divercity Safeguarding Policy & Procedure document. You can access it via the Ninja Portal

Push Notifications:

Push 1

Did you know that 1 in 5 women have experienced physical violence by a partner? Learn about gender-based violence and how we can create safer communities. Click here to read our informative article on what GBV is and how it impacts us all.

Push 2

Talking about GBV isn’t enough. You can play a part in combating GBV and foster a culture of respect and equality. Learn more about taking a stand in our latest article in the News section.

Push 3

Every 4 hours a woman in SA is killed. Gender-based violence leaves no one untouched, impacting individuals, families, and communities in devastating ways. Read more about the impact of GBV in our informative article in the News section