Section A: Violation of human rights
1. Introduction
Gender-based violence is a term used to capture violence that occurs as a result of normative
role expectations, the sex assigned to person at birth as well as unequal power relations
between the gender within the context of a specific society. Gender Based Violence includes
physical, sexual, verbal, emotional and psychological abuse.
One of South Africa’s top challenges is GBV. Every 3 hours in South Africa a woman dies at the
hands of domestic partner. GBV also affect children, about 3 children are killed or abused
every day[1]. But it is not exclusive to women and children, men also face abuse from their
partner. GBV in South Africa has talked about covered enough by the media.
2. On Sunday 12 February, Ntokozo Mayenziwe Xaba would have celebrated her 21st
birthday. But her life was taken on the night of the 1st and the morning of 2nd February . The
police have not reveal much more information on the case[2] but she joins a number of
women who were brutally murdered such as Oyinene mrhwetyana.
3. Gender-based violence is does not only affect women and children. Although women are
affected the most men also experience abuse from their partners. Perpetrators maybe the
root cause of GBV but in most cases victims play a role as they do not report the abuse until
they are killed or kill their abusers. I believe that the problem is systematic as we do not
always see justice prevail.
4. Causes of Gender Based Violence
Gender based violence in South Africa has often been attributed to the creation of violent
masculinities desensitization to death brought by apartheid era. In interview with Bloomberg
news executive director of Amnesty South Africa Shenilla Mohamed ,accredited the apartheid to
have senseless annihilated to so many lives that death, killing and dehumanisation were
normalized within South Africa societies. The era is said to have also emasculated, killing and
belittling of black men and men of colour at the hand of their white employers. The bitterness
and trauma from the abuse these man countered was internalized and released towards their
immediate partners as means to reinvent their masculinity fostering environments where their
sons learnt aggressive behaviour toward women and creating abuse cycles.
Eliminating GBV can occur through Prevention or Response strategies. Response measures
focus on helping and supporting survivors of violence medically, physiologically, shelter wise
and more. This work is often done by government Thuthuzela Centres and none profit
organisations such as United Nations organisations. Prevention measures aim to combat GBV
before it takes place by contributing to resocialisation of communities or tackling said drivers of
violence such as gangsterism and substance abuse. One of the most sustainable long term
method to combating GBV is to change mentalities around gender and violence. This is
executed by various bodies that go to schools and neighbourhoods to teach children, men and
women reformed ideas around consent, communication and human rights.[1]
6. Impact of GBV: On individuals: Beyond the emotional trauma, GBV can result in physical
injuries, contraction of sexual transmitted infections, including HIV, interruptions to sexual health
and reproductive abilities, unwanted pregnancies and even death.[4]
On the community: Gender-based violence is one of the most effective ways of terrorizing
communities. There is no way to quantify the negative impact of systematic rape on a
community. The impact is incredibly deep, complicated, and long-lasting, leaving legacies of
shame, anger, distrust, disease, and divide.
On the country: Violence also has significant economic consequences. The high rate of GBV
places a heavy burden on the health and criminal justice systems, as well as rendering many
survivors unable to work or otherwise move freely in society. A 2014 study by KPMG also
estimated that GBV, and in particular violence against women, cost the South African economy
a minimum of between R28.4 billion and R42.4 billion, or between 0.9% and 1.3% of gross
domestic product (GDP) in the year 2012/2013.[4]
7. South African Gender Based Violence
Below are the Western Cape GBV statistics from April 2021 – March 2022
Incident Type No. Of
Tickets
Abandoned child 0
Assault 24
Bullying 1
Child neglect 33
Elderly neglect 7
Child pornography 1
Emotional abuse 60
Indecent assault 2
Human trafficking 1
Molestation 2
Physical violence 207
Rape 21
Sexual harassment 4
Stalking 2
Verbal 36
abuse/intimidation
Total cases 401
[5]
9. How to combat GBV
By addressing the underlying, interlinked causes of GBV, we can work towards
preventing it from happening in the first place and a strengthening the emphasis to
coherently and comprehensively respond to the social norms, inequalities and structural
drivers that result in the high levels of GBVF the country is facing.
Creating a programming that addresses the restoration of human dignity, build caring
communities and responds to historic and collective trauma.
By ensuring that all GBV survivors are able to access efficient and sensitive criminal
justice that is quick, accessible, responsive and gender inclusive, and strengthening the
capacity within the criminal justice system to address all impunity, effectively respond to
femicide and facilitate justice for GBV survivors.[3]
Section B: Media Evaluation
10. Analysis/Evaluation of Gender-based Violence in the media
a) Dhddhf
b) Dbfggc
c) Dgdcbv
d) Dbgdf
e) Fhffg
f) Gnjddhfdhbc
11. Project
a)
Project Vikela
Logo
The a goal of this project aims at spreading the message and calling for protection of our
women and children .
For this project I will require a team of 5 people and permission from the school.
b) Resources required:
Branded t-shirts,
snacks and drinks,
mic and speakers , and
c) The time frame to plan and execute the project would roughly be a week and about 3
hours on the day of the event.
d)
12. Conclusion
Bibliography
1. Khauhelo Mile, 2020, Gender Based Violence: A South African Plague,
HULT INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS SCHOOL
2. [Link]
is-a-crime-against-humanity-a-tribute-to-ntokozo-xaba/
3. Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, 2020,
NATIONAL STRATEGIC PLAN ON GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE &
FEMICIDE- HUMAN DIGNITY AND HEALING, SAFETY, FREEDOM &
EQUALITY IN OUR LIFETIME
4. [Link]
south-africa
5. [Link]
command-centre-statistics-western-cape
6. [Link]
2023-02-23-saytheirnames-growing-calls-for-action-on-sas-grim-gbv-crisis/
7. [Link]
violation-of-human-rights-and-the-constitution-6e4b662e-c16f-482b-b729-
ee1ca02a1605
8. [Link]
human-rights-violations/%3famp
