Response team addresses GBV in Wentworth
Set up to urgently address the gender-based violence crisis with responsiveness and capability, the team will serve the Durban South Basin area and aims to educate and empower communities.
SET UP to urgently address the gender-based violence crisis with responsiveness and capability, the Rapid Response Task Team is heeding governments call to assist in curbing the scourge of gender-based violence.
Consisting of representatives from organisations in Wentworth, team will serve the Durban South Basin area, and aims to educate and empower communities.
Esmeen Usher from Wentworth organisation, Childtime Community Projects, said the team’s role will be to assist victims and ensure the correct processes are followed after a crime has been committed.
Founder of Wentworth Organisation of Women, Patricia Dove said, “Gender-based violence cases just keep getting worse. It is sad when the victims are caused further trauma during the reporting process and we need to be able to provide proper services to women and children who are victims. There are many flaws in the system and we hope that government will provide us with the resources we need to turn things around in our community.”
Usher said her organisation deals with cases of rape, molestation, drug abuse, abuse of the elderly, as well as domestic violence where both men and women are perpetrators.
ALSO READ:Â Wentworth mother left devastated after son allegedly sets home on fireÂ
“As a team, we will be able to change norms and behaviour through high-level prevention efforts and also urgently respond to victims and survivors of gender-based violence. Gender-based violence and femicide is a concern to the point that it is normalised, tolerated and minimised. The lack of accountability by perpetrators of violence against women and children, the secondary victimisation at the hands of the police, the courts and the criminal justice system perceived to be favouring perpetrators of gender-based violence will all be addressed,” said Usher.
The team will announce the date of their official launch once details have been finalised.
For more information on the team or to contribute to the initiative, call Wentworth Organisation of Women on 076 238 9708.
