The Department of Social Development Somerset West office officially launched its 16 Days of Activism campaign against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) at an event held last Tuesday (29 November), which preceded a short march along Main Road with posters in hand.
The launch was attended by various organisations, including social service agencies ACVV and Badisa, and opened with a short prayer before social workers spoke on the realities of GBV, calling for change in aspects of the culture that gives rise to it.
Wyliza Albrecht stated the purpose of the campaign was to raise awareness and educate people on the negative impact GBV has on society, to find ways to connect and collaborate to eradicate economic dependency of women on men and to change mindsets on the stigmas associated when speaking out.
“We are all precious and have a duty to protect the vulnerable,” she said. “Don’t keep quiet but speak up, challenge cultures and practices, and do not protect abusers,” she urged.
Ward 84 Councillor Norman Mcfarlane also said a few words and pledged to continue to call society out for not doing enough to deal with the scourge of GBV.
“Every one of us is responsible for taking the lead and show the world of how to treat women,” he said.
Audrey Abrahams of DSD said that it was important to investigate and address the reasons behind the GBV crisis in the country.
“We also need to look seriously at the services we provide and how we can make it easier for victims to approach us, give statements, open cases and be placed in a house of safety. Currently these are challenges that can dissuade victims from coming forward and getting help.”
The event then switched to a more emotional affair when GBV survivor Nadia George shared details of her traumatic struggle to escape her abusive husband when she was married in Grabouw.
“I suffered broken bones and blue eyes on a regular basis, the police wouldn’t open a case and his friends as well as other women in the community laughed at me. He even threatened to kill me, saying he’d get away with it easily. My nightmare lasted for years, but eventually I realised then the only way out was to speak up. I posted videos and started relating what this guy was doing to me, and that’s how he eventually stopped. The best advice I can give other women is, no matter what, you have to be brave and speak out or you may not survive”.
Those at the launch participated in a short march in Main Road with posters, officially launching the campaign.
