The COVID-19 pandemic has been the most, if not, the only subject of discussion lately with countries all over the globe trying to curb the spread and regain some normalcy in economic activity. Meanwhile, the United Nations (UN) projected a rise of 20% worldwide in Gender Base Violence cases.
FROM SOUTH AFRICA- One of the social-ills that affects the world, is gender based violence (GBV) which is violence directed at an individual based on their biological sex or gender identity, this can include physical, sexual, verbal, threats, emotional abuse, whether occurring in public or private. The United Nations (UN) projected a rise of 20% worldwide in GBV cases. This sharp spike can be triggered by spouses being forced to be around each other every day, the psychological orientation of staying indoors, the dependency on one spouse/ partner, sexual violence, and female genital mutilation.
Statistically, women/girls form the largest group of victims under GBV, it affects 1 in 3 women in their lifetime, 35% of women worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence. Globally, 7% of women have been sexually assaulted by someone other than a partner. Globally, as many as 38% of murders of women are committed by an intimate partner and 200 million women have experienced female genital mutilation/cutting and the number continues to be on the raise. This not only has devastating effects on the person/ victim but the country’s GDP, as this is used to gauge the health of the economy and economic empowerment of women/ girls is further widened.
In South Africa, the vulnerability of women and girls is at stake, as there was an increase of 2300 cases reported within a week of the lockdown measures put into effect, on average there were approximately 329 cases reported daily. South Africa alone is being compared to war countries where women and young girls are used for sex or human trafficking etc. the increase in these cases can also be attributed to other factors such as the ban on alcohol, tobacco, entertainment and recreational activities due to the lockdown, where the perpetrator is forced to re-orientate their behaviours. The crime against women report in SA revealed that femicide is 5 times higher than the global average, questioning whether SA is a safe country for women. Every other day the media will report on gruesome crimes committed against women/ girls. It is sad to watch and listen to knowing that it could have easily been a loved one or even yourself.
Men are reported as the main perpetrators of GBV and the only ramification seen is higher sentences (jail time) for committing this crime. What is not seen is the thorough support provided to the perpetrator that could see the root causes of the crime dealt with, as sentencing and jail alone will not solve the problem. There is the psychological aspect that plays a huge role in these cases and needs to be addressed at a deeper level.
SOME ROOT CAUSES OF GBV IN COMMUNITIES AND CERTAIN GROUPS
Statistically, women/girls form the largest group of victims under GBV, it affects 1 in 3 women in their lifetime, 35% of women worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence. Globally, 7% of women have been sexually assaulted by someone other than a partner. Globally, as many as 38% of murders of women are committed by an intimate partner and 200 million women have experienced female genital mutilation/cutting and the number continues to be on the raise. This not only has devastating effects on the person/ victim but the country’s GDP, as this is used to gauge the health of the economy and economic empowerment of women/ girls is further widened.
In South Africa, the vulnerability of women and girls is at stake, as there was an increase of 2300 cases reported within a week of the lockdown measures put into effect, on average there were approximately 329 cases reported daily. South Africa alone is being compared to war countries where women and young girls are used for sex or human trafficking etc. the increase in these cases can also be attributed to other factors such as the ban on alcohol, tobacco, entertainment and recreational activities due to the lockdown, where the perpetrator is forced to re-orientate their behaviours. The crime against women report in SA revealed that femicide is 5 times higher than the global average, questioning whether SA is a safe country for women. Every other day the media will report on gruesome crimes committed against women/ girls. It is sad to watch and listen to knowing that it could have easily been a loved one or even yourself.
Men are reported as the main perpetrators of GBV and the only ramification seen is higher sentences (jail time) for committing this crime. What is not seen is the thorough support provided to the perpetrator that could see the root causes of the crime dealt with, as sentencing and jail alone will not solve the problem. There is the psychological aspect that plays a huge role in these cases and needs to be addressed at a deeper level.
SOME ROOT CAUSES OF GBV IN COMMUNITIES AND CERTAIN GROUPS
Cultural norms (child marriages, lobola)- when young girls are forced to get married without their consent. Lobola (dowry) is paid to the family of the bride as a symbol of bringing together the two families, but some men see it as buying (commodity trade) the woman and can do as they please with her.
The Government and leadership of South Africa have to tackle this problem together with communities, getting them involved brings the problem closer to the view of government and initiatives that are introduced are inclusive of men. The neglect of men/boys is demonstrated in the kind of communities built and the conduct. Problems are resolved with inclusion of everyone desired and not in isolation, leadership needs to understand that alone they will not win this battle.
- Patriarchy- where men hold power and prominent positions, whereas women are regarded as inferior and can only occupy certain roles, under the control of a man.
- Past experiences- witnessing or being part of domestic violence and child abuse have psychological effects and can manifest later in life, making one a potential abuser.
- Social status of gender- socially being accustomed to what jobs/ duties women/ men can perform. The LBGTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) community which society is battling with its acceptance.
- Dependency levels- when one spouse earns more than the other or where one is totally dependent on the other, such power can be expressed through abuse, threatening the livelihood of the other.
Initiatives like hotlines, help centres/ life lines are in place to assist victims of GBV 24/7 and some social media influencers being resourceful with coded messages to alert them that a woman/girl is currently being abused and to alert the authorities. These have worked as most perpetrators are detained but what is needed to cut off the stems of this crime, is to deal with the root causes, then only will significant change be seen and those solutions should include a community-based, multi-faceted approach, and sustained engagement with stakeholders, traditionalist being at the helm, initiatives including social norms regarding gender roles and the acceptability of violence.
As much as men are the abusers, there are no reports on, at a large scale as is with women/girls affected by GBV, stats on men/boys who are affected by the same crime. The numbers may be negligible as compared to the numbers against women/ girls but it cannot be ignored that it does take place and they too should be provided the same protection and rights as women and that the treatment is fair. The victim is important to take care of in a moment of vulnerability and the perpetrator is just as important, as they hold the answers to resolving concerns from root level.
Some men/ young boys suffer the same struggles but because of how socialization has shaped our society they are afraid to report on such crimes, where a woman is the abuser, as this is shunned upon in society. In most African cultures men/ boys are brought to not get in touch with their feelings as that makes them look weak, such is reserved for women. Not knowing how to express themselves verbally has led to other physical methods on expression and the same can be said for women/ girls that do not express themselves as they were taught to let things go and sacrifice themselves for others, all this can build up into anger, to erupt later on in life.
The Chief Justice in South Africa, Mogoeng Mogoeng, has emphasized on how society is sick and needs healing and that healing will only happen from having open discussions on the real effects of social ills and causes and how together society is willing to work in the fight against GBV. He has interrogated the high penalizing and whether it resolves the delinquent and has advocated for a collaboration in penalizing and providing adequate professional psychosomatic assistance.
As much as men are the abusers, there are no reports on, at a large scale as is with women/girls affected by GBV, stats on men/boys who are affected by the same crime. The numbers may be negligible as compared to the numbers against women/ girls but it cannot be ignored that it does take place and they too should be provided the same protection and rights as women and that the treatment is fair. The victim is important to take care of in a moment of vulnerability and the perpetrator is just as important, as they hold the answers to resolving concerns from root level.
Some men/ young boys suffer the same struggles but because of how socialization has shaped our society they are afraid to report on such crimes, where a woman is the abuser, as this is shunned upon in society. In most African cultures men/ boys are brought to not get in touch with their feelings as that makes them look weak, such is reserved for women. Not knowing how to express themselves verbally has led to other physical methods on expression and the same can be said for women/ girls that do not express themselves as they were taught to let things go and sacrifice themselves for others, all this can build up into anger, to erupt later on in life.
The Chief Justice in South Africa, Mogoeng Mogoeng, has emphasized on how society is sick and needs healing and that healing will only happen from having open discussions on the real effects of social ills and causes and how together society is willing to work in the fight against GBV. He has interrogated the high penalizing and whether it resolves the delinquent and has advocated for a collaboration in penalizing and providing adequate professional psychosomatic assistance.
The Government and leadership of South Africa have to tackle this problem together with communities, getting them involved brings the problem closer to the view of government and initiatives that are introduced are inclusive of men. The neglect of men/boys is demonstrated in the kind of communities built and the conduct. Problems are resolved with inclusion of everyone desired and not in isolation, leadership needs to understand that alone they will not win this battle.
If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together
By Katlego Confidence Masha
Katlego Confidence Masha is a 31-year-old student from South Africa. She currently works for a government parastatal. She holds a Diploma in Public Finance and Accounting and is completing her BCom: Degree in Supply Chain Management. She is passionate about leadership, mental health, and life coaching and is doing a course in life coaching. Her passion for people has her settling in a Human Resources Management role for her future career with Employee Relations being the main focus hence being registered for an Advanced Certificate: Labour Law.
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