(Contact Gender Advocacy Programme on +27 21 686 7590)

Who are we?

Did you know that:

• at least 1 in every 6 women is subjected to violence in the home.
• Abuse takes many forms: hitting, kicking, stabbing, scolding, threatening, calling names, controlling every move, withholding or appropriating money, sexual assault, rape, and more.
• Abuse can be lethal: it may result in death.
• Women do not enjoy being abused, nor do they ask for it.
• Abused women often feel there is no escape and lose faith in themselves.
• It is not your fault if you are abused by your husband, ex-husband or boyfriend. It is your right to be safe and secure.
• You can get an interdict to stop your husband, ex-husband or boyfriend from abusing you. The Prevention of Family Violence Act is there to protect you against domestic violence.
• The police must protect you if you are abused by your husband, ex-husband or boyfriend. They have to arrest him if he does not comply with the interdict.
• The government has made many commitments to end violence against women, both nationally and internationally.
• espite these commitments and promises, the government has not allocated enough money to address violence against women.

What can you do:

• Organise against domestic violence and other forms of violence against women.
• Get informed about the different forms of abuse and how it affects women. This will help you to discover abuse earlier.
• Offer shelter to a woman who flees abuse and fears for her life.
• Organise meetings or workshops in your community to raise awareness about the problem.
• Give advice and support to a woman who is abused.
• Battering is a crime: talk to family and friends, or get help from organisations, the police or the courts.
• Send a letter to the Minister of Justice or the Portfolio Committee on Justice to make sure that the new law will adequately protects battered women.
• Write to the Station Commander if the police refuses to intervene or protect you. If he or she does not respond to your complaint, you can write to the Department of Safety & Security and/or to local newspapers.
• Write to government departments (Justice, Welfare, Health, Safety & Security) to remind them of their commitments and responsibilities.
• Write/march to the government to insist that enough funds are given for protection and support of abused women, and for measures to eliminate violence against women.

Ilitha Labantu: 633 2383

Lifeline: 461 1111

NICRO Women's Support Centre: 22 16 90

Rapcan: 685 4103

Rape Crisis: 47 97 62 / 361 9085

Women on Farms Project: 887 2960

We have a vision of a society where women are not abused. We need to work together to make that vision come true. Join us and become an advocate on behalf of women.

Call GAP for more information at +27 21 686 7590.