A long way to go to ending GBV, says local NPO

Ekujuleni Kwenhliziyo Community Development Project hosted a Gender Based Violence (GBV) awareness dialogue to mark the closing of the 16 days of activism of no violence against women and children campaign over the weekend.

The campaign which was held between November 25 and December 10 aims to raise awareness and promote action against GBV.

The day commenced with a walk from Soweto Theatre to the Jabulani Safe hub where a programme involving parents, children and child therapists and psychologists unfolded.

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According to the organisation, they wanted to use the day to also commemorate and raise awareness about World AIDs Day on December 1, International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3 and International Human Rights Day on December 10.

Founder and Director Khululiwe Mtshali explained that Jabulani had been identified for its high reported cases that pertain to GBV.

“We are alarmed at the stats and felt strongly that we needed a strong message because we see there’s a great need.

“We want people to know this is what is happening and that it needs to stop immediately within our communities. Particularly so because everyone is affected by this not just women and children alone.

“We wanted to cater to the various groups because every voice is important if we want to win the war against GBV,” explained Mtshali.

Mtshali who is a social worker by profession also added that children were often affected – and wanted to create a programme around them that will link them to psychologists and social workers.

“As a social worker, children continue to bear the brunt in homes and family structures where GBV is prevalent and this is why we wanted to have child psychologists.

“We feel we have done enough explaining about the causes but now we want the genesis of the problem.

“The idea is to be able to identify children from dysfunctional families and seek help for them and where necessary get them into safe homes,” commented Mtsahali.

The organisation runs Intsika YeSizwe, a men and young boys forum against GBV which runs a 365 days programme against GBV in schools, churches and broader communities.

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“This is a critical time of coming together and finding sustainable ways of eliminating GBV. Perpetrators of GBV are men so we are trying to group men in order to curb the scourge of GBV.

It often starts in small spaces within families, into communities until it’s a national crisis as we see today. We tackle dynamics between couples, father and sons and how to raise a boy child and it is important because they cannot be left out of the conversation.

“Boys who are violent are some of those who’ve grown up without a father or a male figure around. We engage with youth, and teach them how to be worthy men,” added Marketing Executive, Zamokuhle Mhlongo.