Masimanyane Women's support centre was established in January 1996. The centre was the first facility offering a gender-specific counselling service to victims of rape, battery and domestic violence.

Since its establishment, the centre has been well supported and has gained an excellent reputation for addressing the issues of violence against women in various ways. Some of the programmes which the centre now runs include a legal advice office in the East London magistrates court. This office provides legal advice, court support and it engages in advocacy with the police and related resource personnel in the justice department.

The centre trains lay counselors, provides leadership training through skills development in the documentation of women's human right violations, organisational development, fundraising and gender sensitization for organisations working with women's issues.

In 1997, Masimanyane hosted the first Southern African NGO conference on violence against women to be held in this region. More than 100 people attended the public conference which boasts guests from 10 African countries, Europe and the United States of America.

In 1998, Masimanyane coordinated the writing of an NGO Shadow report on violence against women which was presented to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). This report critiqued the government report to CEDAW and put forward recommendations to the South African government for eradicating violence against women. This has been a major advocacy exercise with far reaching implications for women in the country who face the traumatic experiences of rape and sexual assault on a daily basis..

Masimanyane engages in extensive Public Education programmes aimed at teaching women and girls their rights and providing access to justice. The programmes address the societal attitudes and stereotyping. Many programmes are conducted at schools with young people. Radio Talk shows are another form of public education which the centre uses extensively.

To facilitate access to counselling and other services Masimanyane has embarked on a Community Outreach programme which aims to develop and establish satellite offices located within communities. The third of these offices is to be launched on 7 August in commemoration of national Women's Day.

For further information on the centre please contact:
Ms Foster or Dr Musaba on
(043) 743-9169 or Fax: (043) 743-9176  

 

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