What is Gender-Based Violence?
South Africa has extremely high rates of Gender-Based Violence (GBV). GBV occurs when one person or a group of people violate another person or a group of people in various forms. Violence in South Africa is commonly targeted to women and children, and/including members of the LGBTQIA+ community. This violence or abuse can take the form of:
- Physical abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Emotional and psychological abuse
- Financially- through withholding and controlling finances
- manipulation
- intimidation
GBV is a societal problem
GBV is a disgraceful part of our society in South Africa. In the vast majority of cases, men are the perpetrators. Therefore, men have the largest role to play in preventing GBV. It is their responsibility to question violent motions of masculinity and to stand up for survivors of GBV and it is their job to stop other men from perpetrating this crime. We must all strive to be examples for children so that they may learn the virtues of respect and honour for one another.
What to do if you are experiencing abuse
If you are unhappy in your relationship and you feel like your partner is abusing you, you can always talk to a doctor about this for help. If your partner does not let you go to the doctor alone, there are ways the doctor can ask the partner to leave so that you can talk to the doctor alone. The doctor then can give you help or tell you about someone you can go to that can help.
Have a look at the department of Social Development’s gender-based violence (GBV) website for more information: gbv.org.co.za
Who you can contact
Here are some places you can phone for help:
*Use the additional resources page to access the following numbers and links.
- National Crisis Helpline (Lifeline) 0861322322
- Lifeline Email Counselling lifelinecounselling@gmail.com
- Stop Gender-Based Violence Helpline 0800150150
- People Opposed to Women Abuse 0116424345
- Family and Marriage Society of South Africa 0124600733
- National Network on Violence Against Women 0123214959
