Shared Space GBV series| Pt. 1

Gender-based violence (GBV) is the most extreme expression of unequal gender relations in society. It is first and totally a violation of human rights and a global health issue that cuts across boundaries of economic wealth, culture, religion, age, and sexual orientation.

Throughout the recent years, we have seen many organizations being vocal in raising awareness on this dreadful issue of abuse against women and children exceptionally, with the annual International 21 day of activism campaign and other anti-rape campaigns that aim to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.

Regardless of the undertakings done by these human rights organisations, through the media, to educate the society with an effort to eradicate and eliminate this epidemic, instead, the has been an enormous increase in cases of gender-based violence in our country.

I find it quite alarming and shocking that there were 179,683 recorded contact crimes against women in the last 2018/19 financial year crime statistics. Of these, 82,728 were cases of common assault and 54,142 were assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm. In that year, 2,771 women were murdered, with further 3,445 attempted murders.

These disturbing high rates of gender-based violence are a huge concern not only for South Africa but the whole world too. In the recent WHO report, South Africa has been ranked as one of the highest countries with the highest rates of Violence against Women in the world.

Amid this problem, something that becomes more infuriating is the fact that it most often happens at the hands of friends, loved ones, and family members who find a way to justify the abuse and/or put the blame back on the victims. This pathetic irrational justification of being violent is unacceptable and there should be a very harsh penalty for these perpetrators.

One particular group of people that are also victims of these crimes is the LGBTQI community. Lesbians, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex people also face high levels of discrimination and GBV. But because these hate crimes are not yet recognised as unique crimes under SA law, there are no reliable figures about the extent of the issue in the country, but that that doesn’t excuse that fact that it is taking place.

One tragic story that draws a relation to this, is the rape and the murder of Noxolo Nogwaza that happened in 2013, a mother of 2 kids and an LGBTQI activist back in 2013 that left the country in mourning and unrest by the incident. Another story in particular, that occurred this year in February that confirms this toxic GBV behaviour towards the LGBTQI community is the story of the brutal killing of a 23-year-old gender activist and musician Lindokuhle Cele, from KZN who was stabbed 21 times because of his sexuality.

Similar cases like these and the one’s where women are abused and murdered do take place in the community but only a few of them are reported, and unfortunately, for those that do get reported, the law enforcement is not doing it’s best to serve and put the perpetrator in prison.

It is seriously disconcerting and horrifying that this coercion and mass killings perpetrated by predators disguised as men continues to be a growing trend in our communities. With that being said, as a man and a member of the society, I cannot sit back and not lift up my voice against these brutal killings of women. I believe we must speak out on these issues, particularly for those who’s voices have been taken away by these perpetrators. Additionally this will help victims who perching in fear to speak out to expose these predators who are disgusing in our community. If we don’t speak up and amplify this course we become cowards and accomplices for the very same predators who are committing these crimes against women.

Hence I fully support and will continue to show support to organisations and social media movements that are at the forefront, and unapologetically advocating for women and providing a platform for them to tell their own experiences at the hands of men and calling out their alleged abusers.

Here is a list of few organisations that are fighting the fight against gender-based violence and aiding women and their children who have survived abuse.

• POWA – is a feminist women’s rights organisation that provides both services, and engages in advocacy in order to ensure the realisation of women’s rights and improving women’s quality of life.

• NISAA – Focuses on the prevention of gender violence and the empowerment of women who have been abused by their partners. It provides counselling and shelter services, awareness and advocacy, training and developing local, national, regional and international partnerships.

• #NotInMyName – focuses on sustainable positive change in the lives of people, through mobilizing sectors and individuals to fight any form of social injustice, corruption and the erosion of our democracy, and restoring pride and dignity in our people.

• BrotherForLive – is a social and well-being movement aimed at mobilising men to take responsibility for their own health. By promoting positive male norms and encourage men to test for HIV and undergo Medical Male Circumcision (MMC), actively take a stand against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in their communities.

As a human in society, having an equal right is an important thing that each society should have whether men or women. Ability to access opportunity, get the freedom of life, free to participate in public and many others are the equality that all gender must have it.

In the next following weeks, I and a few other writers, we put forward a series of articles that focus mainly in raising awareness on the GBV issue.

My wish for you as the reader is to engage and share these next series of blog posts with on your social media, with friends, family and loved ones to reach more people.