By: Sanele Mvelase (SA SURE Pro Special Projects Co-ordinator, uThukela)
Enduring sexual, physical and psychological abuse is a terrible reality for many South Africans, especially women, children, the LGBTQI+ community, the elderly, and people living with disabilities.
This violation damages every aspect of life and society, and deprives generations of these vulnerable groups of their human rights to health, education, safety and security, and justice.
The annual 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign is observed across the world from 25 November to 10 December, as a call to action for all leaders and communities to speak out on gender-based violence, and stop it before it starts.
Building awareness among partners and colleagues
In uThukela District, the SA SURE Pro project team rallied civil society leaders to join an awareness session on violence against women and children, held in Ladysmith with members of the District Department of Health (DoH) Management Team.
Centred on the idea of strengthening partnerships between government, the private sector and civil society stakeholders, and mobilising the media to spread the message, the event was led by SA SURE Pro Special Projects Co-ordinator, Mr Sanele Mvelase, and attended by 21 people from the HST team and the DoH District Office.
Among the DoH District colleagues present were Ms Sindi Sithole, DoH HIV Community Co-ordinator, who voiced her message of support, and DoH Health Promoter, Mr Sanele Ngcobo.
- standing up to perpetrators and creating safer environments for women, children and vulnerable groups;
- providing staff and survivors with information on services and organisations that can support them through their journey to healing;
- engaging actively with men in the organisation about ways of addressing violence in our homes, workplaces and communities; and
- highlighting the stories of those who have survived gender-based violence and child abuse, and the impact that the campaign has had on their lives.
Mr Nkululeko Zulu, HST's uThukela District Co-ordinator, notes that awareness of gender-based violence, and of all forms of abuse, features as a vital part of SA SURE Pro's work in supporting delivery HIV testing and care services.
"Through training, capacity-building and direct delivery of care, the SA SURE Pro project ensures that healthcare workers are aware of the importance of screening for intimate partner violence (IPV) and gender-based violence among the clients we serve," he explains.
"This is especially critical when providing index contact testing services. It is a great concern that when a person is diagnosed with HIV, and their index contacts are approached for counselling and testing, that they may become victims of violence due to stigma and poor understanding resulting in blame and suspicion. As healthcare workers, it is our responsibility to probe for signs of violence or potential harm and protect the client wherever possible."
Pledging against GBV and violence against children.
The awareness session featured a keynote address by the guest speaker, Ms Mukeliwe Mkhize, a Social Worker for LifeLine who is based at the Ladysmith Police Station. The SA SURE Pro project collaborates closely with LifeLine to strengthen the essential survival services provided to people living with HIV in the district who need additional support.
HST's Differentiated Care Co-ordinator, Ms Nozintle Ntlou, then led a candle-lighting ceremony to commemorate survivors and victims of gender-based violence, saying that the flame symbolised a united front against gender-based violence. Everyone rose and sang the national anthem, and Mr Zulu closed this moment with a prayer.
The attendees then jointly documented their commitments to ending gender-based violence. Members of the District Health Management Team wrote down their individual pledges and messages of support, and created a vision board illustrating the scope of responses.
The group proceeded to Murchison Street, where they marched with posters bearing strong messages against gender-based violence.
Every voice counts, and every action creates a reaction
Although HST as a role-player cannot reach every member of society, we believe that reaching even a few can make a difference. If we listen to, believe, respect and respond to survivors, and gather quality data to inform prevention and support interventions, we can contribute to a better future for all.