THE Amanzimtoti Police Station, with its new victim support office, remains committed to protecting and serving the women of the community.
The station’s Vispol commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Riëtte Kitching, said that although modern-day women are certainly far less discriminated against than their counterparts in medieval times, Women’s Month reminds people that there is still much more to be done.
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“While acknowledging the role of parenthood and appreciating the contributions of women in various fields, there remains the stark reality of unequal pay, discrimination and diminished schooling opportunities for girls,” she said.
Kitching said this is further evident when browsing crime statistics and realising increases in gender-based violence, sexual harassment and domestic abuse, both physical and mental, within society. “Alarming so, [they are abused] often by those who portray to love them, who promised to protect them and who are supposed to care or who committed loyalty,” she said.
In an effort to better assist the community, the Amanzimtoti Police Station has established a victim support office with dedicated staff, working hand in hand with non-government organisations, to the point of assisting with counselling services.
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Kitching said, “Through our detective branch, we retain a close working relationship with the Department of Justice and our communications liaison office, striving toward open lines of communication with all our community structures and local press. In addition, our management component, which includes both genders, has been sensitised to the needs of female victims, in particular those who were submitted to gender-based crimes.”
Amanzimtoti police appeal and encourage victims to come forward, to report what goes on behind closed doors and to expose perpetrators in order to make it stop. “We remain committed to protecting and serving the women, mothers and daughters of our community from report to trail, for the better interest of all,” said Kitching.
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