Kwatsaduza – The Resurrect Foundation is all about educating society about GBV.
Founder Refiloe Mgcina said, “As this is our first day of 16 Days Of Activism against Gender-Based Violence after the pandemic we faced as a country, we are grateful and thankful to be alive as it gives us a chance to fix our mistakes as organisations.”
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Mgcina pleads with stakeholders and the society at large not to neglect a boy child.
“Over the years our focus has been on a girl child. Most boys grow up having anger because their needs were ignored and not attended to.
They tend to inflict pain on others later in life and in schools, hence we are facing bullying,” said Mgcina.
Mgcina mentioned there are campaigns highlighting abuse against women and children but none about violence against men.
Also Read: Campaign to discourage GBV
Mgcina said, “Men and boys are violated as well.
I humbly plead with the department of social development to add violence against men to their programmes. There’s a need to educate our society about GBV.
I believe over the years we were given inaccurate stats on GBV.
“Whenever a lesbian or gay person is raped and killed, that is not GBV but a hate crime. This will make it easier for the SAPS to give correct stats on GBV,” said Mgcina.
Mgcina also provided tips to parents on handling the sexual abuse of minors:
• Never bathe your child after sexual abuse.
• Parents must never insert their fingers or any object in an attempt to examine the child.
• You are not a doctor, do not touch. It may work against you and in favour of the perpetrator.
• Report the matter immediately. The survivor needs to get medical treatment as soon as possible.
• If it is a family member who is the perpetrator, never treat it as a family matter. Report him. If you don’t assist and support your child, she may hate or blame you later in life.
• If siblings are aware of the abuse, they need to go for counselling.
• Parents must not interfere with a survivor’s statement. When you interfere with the child’s statement, you bring fear and confusion to the child.
• No amount of tears or lies will change the court’s decision.
• Give the survivor moral support.
• Identify the survivor’s skills and develop them.
Advice to survivor:
• Report the perpetrator.
• Do not feel guilty, you did not ask to be violated.
• Never skip court dates, unless in case of unforeseen circumstances and proof must be produced to the court via the investigating officer.
• Don’t exaggerate to the police and court, as there is no need. Remember, it’s easy to forget lies.
• Avoid violent documentaries, especially when the case is recent.
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