#16DaysOfActivsim: War on GBV needs more support

The CEO of the National Centre for Child Protection, Danie van Loggerenberg, said the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children campaign is still relevant as it provides hope to victims and educates community members on what is GBV.

He said victims are also encouraged during this period to report crimes perpetrated against them and for them to know that there is help available.

“Victims during this period often feel empowered with enough courage and strength to go through the process of reporting the matter to the police. Many victims of GBV do not report instantly but instead report after a couple of weeks or months.”

Van Loggerenberg said such campaigns are vitally important to combat the rise in cases of abuse against women and children.

“We have found that GBV cases are still being reported during 16 days of activism revealing that some men don’t take such campaigns seriously,” he said.

The National Centre for Child Protection hotline was established in 2020 and has since seen various types of abuse such as mental, physical, emotional, and verbal abuse being reported.

“These abuse cases occur both in-person and online in the form of cyberbullying. We find a massive increase in cyberbullying cases being reported and the severity of physical abuse has also increased.”

Van Loggerenberg said the government can assist organisations and other groups that promote the safety of women and children by joining them at educational talks to create awareness.

“It will also help for local businesses to support the campaign.”

He said they are hoping to launch more child protection hotlines countrywide.
Benoni hotline – 079 595 2637
National hotline – 076 900 7151
Counselling hotline – 076 037 6345

Greater Benoni Child Welfare
Vanessa Carelse, director of Benoni Child Welfare said the fight against GBV is everyone’s responsibility.

“If everyone can become aware and change their behaviour towards the campaigns then together we can eliminate violence against women.

“Violence against women is a collection of individual actions including behavioural or psychological factors that get overlooked. These include the inequalities between women and men, unequal access to land, resources or education and unequal political power.

“Sixteen days in combatting violence against women and children is not enough, we need to plan long-term and deep systemic and structural reforms which will eliminate the conditions which create and reproduce relations of violence.

“Thorough research and targeted actions will help.”

Carelse said the government can assist welfare organisations by providing more resources to assist with cubing GBV.

“As NPOs, we are trying our level best to reach out to our communities with the minimal resources at our disposal. It limits the number of community members that we can reach.”

Signs for parents to look out for if their children are abused
According to Carelse, the signs of child abuse aren’t always obvious, and a child might tell anyone what’s happening to them.
Sometimes, children don’t even realise that they are abused.

The signs of a child, who is neglected, may be different from the signs of a child who is abused sexually. Some common signs include:
• Unexplained changes in behaviour or personality
• Becoming withdrawn
• Seeming anxious
• Becoming uncharacteristically aggressive
• Lacks social skills and has few friends, if any
• Poor bond or relationship with a parent
• Knowledge of adult issues inappropriate for their age
• Running away or going missing
• Always choosing to wear clothes which cover their body.

To report any cases of child neglect or abuse contact the Benoni Child Welfare on 011 849 5241 or visit their office on Third Avenue, Northmead.

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