Free legal advice on Whatsapp for victims of domestic abuse

Although the rumblings of this storm started some time ago, the words ‘gender-based violence’ and ‘femicide’ are now household terms, said Yvonne Wakefield, founder of the Warrior Project, which aims to address this by providing information and access to help.

Yvonne said this follows a number of highly publicised murders of South African women in recent weeks, sparking outrage across the nation.

According to Yvonne, a World Health Organization’s Report on Preventing Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence against Women (2010 p5) revealed that 70 per cent of women experience physical or sexual violence at some point in their lives.

“The Warrior Project, established earlier this year to provide victims of domestic abuse and violence with access to information and resources, has seen a flood of activity over the past month, spurring it to extend its free legal advice offering to victims via WhatsApp.

“WhatsApp is by far the most commonly used means of communication across demographic groups. It’s a good channel for seeking legal advice in pressurised situations when it is difficult to have private conversations safely.

The service is also anonymous, which is useful for the many victims who experience embarrassment or shame around the situations they find themselves in.”

She added that the WhatsApp line is monitored by an experienced all-women team at LawForAll.

Jackie Nagtegaal of LawForAll added, “Our lawyers are available to answer questions on the legal process and help victims understand their options so they can be empowered to make decisions that are right for them. WhatsApp makes this service even more accessible, taking into account the sensitivity of these situations.”

The WhatsApp legal advice line, available on 063 603 3759, enhances the already comprehensive directory of resources available to victims of domestic abuse on The Warrior Project website (www.thewarriorproject.org.za).