One day at a time: Empowering women from vulnerable communities on maintenance and domestic violence issues
Educating women from vulnerable communities on maintenance and domestic violence issues
ALBERTON – DESPITE a world-renowned Constitution and a legislative framework that safeguards women and children’s rights, ProBono.Org says that South Africa is home to high levels of violence against its women and children.
ProBono.Org, along with government, business, civil society organisations, faith-based organisations and the media are participating in a drive to increase awareness of the negative impact of violence and abuse on women and children.
Carien Else of The Principality said: “This year ProBono.Org will be hosting a series of talks with the aim of educating women on their rights regarding maintenance and domestic violence cases. These talks will be held at various women’s shelters, situated around the city. These special facilities offer protection to women survivors of abuse, until they are in a position to return to their normal lives. Frequently women in shelters are vulnerable to further abuse if they return home – a place that should be safe – but where the abuse took place.”
Els added that the shelters would assist women to get back on their feet and perhaps find employment so they could become independent from their abusers, also to gain much needed confidence.
According to Els, ProBono.Org has arranged that specialist speakers talk to women about issues such as domestic violence, maintenance, etc. One of the speakers at the lectures will be Beverley Clark from Clark’s Attorneys.
Els further noted that Clarks Attorneys provides legal assistance in an array of family law matters. The firm provides staff to ProBono.Org’s Domestic Violence helpdesk at the Randburg Magistrate’s Court. In addition to staffing the helpdesk and representing pro bono clients referred to them by ProBono.Org, Clarks takes on matters referred to the firm by the Law Society of the Northern Provinces.
Norton Rose, an important partner of ProBono.Org, will also be running their annual domestic violence help desk at the Randburg Magistrate’s Court every weekday morning during the 16 Days of Activism campaign.
16 Days of Activism runs from November 25, which was International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women to December 10, which will be International Human Rights Day.
The running theme for the 16 days of activism is “Count Me In: Together moving a non-violent South Africa forward”. The campaign was officially launched by President Jacob Zuma in Boksburg.
