Women’s Month: Combatting GBV for three decades and counting

DURBAN resident, Cookie Edwards has been working to end gender-based violence for 30 years. She founded the KZN Network on Violence Against Women.

Edwards has been involved in spearheading and implementing numerous projects on raising awareness about women’s rights, which include capacity building, lobbying and advocacy, creating effective networks and public awareness campaigns. Among these was a social mobilisation project in communities in the eThekwini Municipality that ignited the Prevention in Action movement.

Edwards established over 50 Violence Free Zones aimed at preventing sexual and gender-based violence towards reducing the high prevalence of new HIV transmissions.

She also implemented a pilot project, the Victim Empowerment Programme for the Department of Social Development for victims of domestic and sexual violence in nine communities called the White Door Centres of Hope.

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Edwards was inspired to help others as a survivor of GBV herself, but it was her passion for combating GBV that sustained her work, spanning over three decades.

“It was my past experience that inspired me to help other women – because I could understand what other women were going through in their relationships. It started in a small way and just grew and grew,” said Edwards.

“When you are in a toxic relationship, you have that feeling of helplessness and hopelessness. There is also shame – you don’t want to speak out. As women, we all want to portray that perfect family relationship. Abuse comes in when you give up your power and control to someone else. An abuser will dictate every aspect of your life and you actually normalise it and you don’t realise that you are being abused. In some cases women even have to ask permission to go and see their families. Domestic violence is a very complex issue. It is easy to tell someone to leave the relationship, but what options are there? Yes, we have shelters, but we don’t have secondary housing where a woman can go into her own apartment or place and be financially independent,” said Edwards.

She is currently strengthening GBV District Networks in the province and established several Rapid Response Teams in various communities to ensure clear referral pathways by building a safety net around survivors of GBV.

“If someone comes to you for help, you will counsel them and tell them to go to the court to get a protection order, but you have to follow up and ensure they went. You have to find out what other support they need. This is how the Rapid Response Team aims to close the net of support around a survivor,” said Edwards.

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They also host Structured Information Sessions where Rapid Response Teams start informal conversations to educate and raise awareness about GBV in the community. Edwards has won numerous awards for her work, including the International Award for the Women’s Safety Audit in partnership with eThekwini Municipality Safer Cities in Bogota – Colombia and the Shoprite/Checkers Women of the Year.

Who to call for help

The Gender-Based Violence National Hotline is *120*7867#. Dial this number and a social worker will call you back.National Shelter Movement of South Africa offers shelter to abused women and their children. Call 0800 001 005, email infohelpine@womens­centre.co.za, or send an SMS, WhatsApp or Please Call Me to 082 057 8600.