Johannesburg – For many years, abused women have remained victims but it’s now time to move from being victims to becoming survivors, says Gauteng Social Development MEC, Nandi Mayathula-Khoza.
“They [women] can’t remain victims but must become survivors; it [abuse] should not happen for a second time,” she insisted, as the country approaches Women’s month in August.
Mayathula-Khoza on Monday launched the Adopt a centre for Abused Women and Children: From Victimisation to Survival Campaign. The campaign calls on corporate citizens, communities, non-governmental organisations, faith based organisations (FBO), community based organisations, including the media partners to adopt centres for abused women and children.
Mayathula-Khoza explained that the campaign aims to place the spotlight on the rights of abused women and children and contribute more to improving their lives.
“Contributing to improving the lives of women and children can be achieved by adopting a centre for abused women and children, contributing dignity packs, school uniforms, clothes and food on regular intervals,” she said.
It can also be achieved by offering the survivors of abuse job opportunities and buying goods and services provided by cooperatives managed and owned by the survivors of abuse.
The province currently has 234 Homes for Abused Women and Children with a capacity of 592, and currently accommodating more than 300 women and children. Most of the shelters are run by non-profit organisations (NPOs) and funded by the department.
Mayathula-Khoza also stressed the need to enhance the resourcefulness of the victims of crime, violence, abuse and rape by providing opportunities and access to services available in government, businesses and the NPOs and FBO sectors.
“We use and build on their own capacity and support networks, and we encourage them to act and to be in charge of their lives and destiny. Thus, their empowerment may be defined as having or taking control, being listened to, being recognized or respected as an individual and having the right to make choices and to be respected by others.
“We seek to restore the loss or damage caused by criminal acts and their consequences through a variety of actions intended to empower the victims to deal with the consequences of violent acts and abuse,” she said.
In order to enable the disempowered victims to recover from the exposure to crime and violence, Mayathula-Khoza said such needs have to be met through a well-managed, integrated, multidisciplinary team approach.
“Experience shows that empowering victims in a holistic manner reduces secondary victimisation, encourages do-operation with the criminal justice system, reinforces socially desired behaviour and acts as a deterrent to offenders or potential offenders. Victim empowerment thus has the potential to prevent and reduce crime and violence as well as to enhance the effectiveness of the criminal justice system.”
From April to June this year, 406 cases of abuse were reported to the department --Mayathula-Khoza attributed the increase to government’s campaigns in raising awareness. – SAnews.gov.za
