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Contents
- The meaning of gender prejudice
- Why gender issues are important
- How does the new Domestic Violence Act provide you with better protection
- Possible remedies
- How to get a protection order
- What can happen if a person does not obey the provisions of the protection order
- Who can help you
- Some important tips
- How to prevent on going violence
- Why is this pamphlet important.
- The Meaning of Gender prejudice
- Girls and boys are born with certain physical differences
- All other differences are not real differences but are created by what we learn from society, customs, and the way we are brought up
- Our thinking and feeling is determined by what we learn in the home and from others e.g. we learn to think that certain things are done only by mothers or girls and fathers or boys cannot do them
- We see that farms are run by men, and we believe that women cannot be farmers but we do have women farmers
- We see that buses are driven by men and we believe that a bus can only be driven by a man but there are women bus drivers
- Can you think of more examples?
- We develop prejudices through beliefs and what people around you are saying
- An example of a prejudice is when you believe that certain people are incapable of doing certain things simply because they are women or black etc
- When we refuse to employ a woman as an engineer because we believe that she cannot do this kind of work, we are discriminating against her
- Can you think of examples of discrimination?
- Such discrimination is not only unfair but it oppresses a person
- Oppression does not stop at the fact that women cannot get certain kinds of jobs but it leads to lack of respect and to poor treatment of women.
- Why gender issues are important:
- In January 1996 the S.A. Government ratified the U.N. Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (Cedaw) and
- on 15th December 1999 The Domestic Violence Act came into operation.It is important to Recognise all forms of oppression and their sources in order to promote awareness of such discrimination
- Ensure that all men and women enjoy human rights, and freedom in political,, economic, social, cultural, and daily lives.
- Once you become aware of the prejudices within you, you can do something about it
- Lets begin to think and talk about the prejudices you, I and others may have.
- How does the new Domestic Violence Act provide you with better protection?
- Domestic violence is now given a wider meaning. It can mean:-
- Physical assaults
- Sexual abuse
- Emotional and psychological abuse caused by swearing saying nasty things insulting etc.
- Economic abuse through deliberately not providing money to meet essential requirements when there is sufficient money for this
- Intimidation or threats made verbally or through action like pointing a weapon etc.
- Harassment
- Stalking
- Damage to property
- Entering the home without permission from the victim
- Any other behaviour which is insulting,abusive or trying to control.
- protects a wider range of people eg.
- Wife or a husband whether married divorced or separated
- Gays and Lesbians are also protected
- Parents and children
- Other family members eg Aunts grandmothers etc.
- People who intend to marry, but are not married
- places a duty on police officers and others to report acts of abuse and take urgent action to protect the victim.
- The procedure is made easier.
- There is a wider choice in the courts you can use to get help.
- protection orders have a wider application so that now the court can order the abuser :
- to stop the violence
- not to ask others to abuse you
- not to enter the family home
- not to enter particular parts of the house
- not to enter your workplace
- not to stop you from entering or leaving your home
- order the police to take away the abuser's guns or other dangerous weapons
- order the police to provide an escort to enable you to fetch your things
- order the abuser to pay your rent or home loan and money for food and other household expenses.
- Order the abuser not to have any contact with a child or children.
- The abuser is dealt with more seriously so that now the court may:
- Sentence an abuser for up to 5 years
- Sentence the abuser to pay a fine or both fine and imprisonment.
- Some Remedies
- You can persuade the abuser to get counseling and change. This can happen at:-
- a welfare agency
- a religious institution
- a psychologist
- You can leave the home and seek separation while your spouse obtains help.
- You can divorce your partner
- You can live in the abusive relationship
- How to get a protection order
- Which court can you go to?
- Go to a court in the area where you live or work
- Go to a court in the area where the abuser lives or works
- Go to a court where the abuse happened.
- When can you go to court ?
- You can now go to court during normal working hours on any working day
- In an emergency you go to court at any time day or night and over week-ends.
- Who can go to court?
- The victim or with the written consent of the victim
- A counselor
- Health service provider
- A police officer
- A social worker
- A teacher
- The following people do not have to give written consent:
- A minor
- Mentally retarded person
- Person who is unconscious
- A person who is for some reason unable to give written consent
- A minor can go to court without the assistance of his parent or guardian
- Oral evidence can also be taken
- What is in the order?
- It may be a temporary order with a return date when the abuser has to appear in court to tell his story
- It may not grant a temporary order but instead summon the abuser to court to show why an order should not be granted
- If the abuser does not appear on the return date then the court may grant an order
- If the abuser appears then the court will listen to the abuser's story and decide as to what would be fair and just
- The court can order payment of rent, bond repayments, maintenance of children and other costs
- Removal of any dangerous weapons from the possession of the abuser
- Order the police to provide an escort to the victim to remove her possessions from the home
- Prevent the abuser from making contact with a child
- A suspended warrant of arrest
- How can an application for a protection order be withdrawn?
- The victim may ask for the withdrawal of an application but the court will examine carefully why the victim wants to withdraw before granting such an order.
- What can happen if the abuser fails to obey the court order?
- Inform the police immediately and give them the suspended warrant of arrest
- The abuser may then be arrested or given notice to appear in court
- The court may sentence him for up to five years imprisonment or fine him or both fine and imprisonment
- Once the suspended warrant is used you must go back to court to obtain a new suspended warrant
- The prosecutor cannot withdraw the charges
- Where Can You Go For Help
- You can go to:
- S.A. Police Services Tel. No.
- Mahatma Gandhi Hospital , Phoenix
- Domestic Violence Help Line
- The Court
We have a 24 hour telephone service
Our telephone number is 5021883
We have an office at 113/115 Rose Clay Place
Clayfield, Phoenix
Watch for our Board on the main Phoenix Highway.
We are open Mon. to Fri.
between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- Some important tips:
- Always carry your identity book when going for help.
- Obtain a doctors certificate immediately after the assault
- Go to the district Surgeon at the Mahatma Gandhi Hospital if the assault occurs during office hours, or the next day after having seen a doctor
- Always carry the medical certificate with you
- Do not tell lies as you can be punished and sentenced for up to 2 years
- How you can help prevent on going violence
- Some reasons for violent behaviour:
- Violence takes the form of a cycle-It is passed on from father to son.
- Violence is seen as the only way of solving conflict
- violence arises from extreme anger or frustration
- violence is seen as a macho image
- Some useful remedies
- Consciously practice nonviolence
- Build respect for all human beings and nature generally
- If you respect others they will respect you
- Turn things around by responding to anger with love
- Stay away from violent movies
- Do not play violent games
- Do not be guided by those who believe that violence is the only way
- Be strong and convert them instead
nonviolence is courageous
- You can make a difference
- Make non violence a way of life
- Why is this pamphlet important?
- No one knows when an abuse can occur either to them or to relatives or friends
- This pamphlet gives you useful information to obtain urgent help
- If you keep the pamphlet safely then you can find it when you need it
- We need to work together to get rid of abuse from our community
- Discuss some of the questions raised in this pamphlet with your friends in order to become more gender conscious and nonviolent
- The pamphlet is of use to both girls and boys and to both men and women.
- Keep it safely you never know when you will need it !
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