Gender-based violence (GBV) is a profound and widespread problem in South Africa, impacting almost every aspect of life. GBV which disproportionately affects women and girls is systemic, and deeply entrenched in institutions, cultures, and traditions in South Africa. Population-based surveys show very high levels of intimate partner violence (IPV) and non-partner sexual violence (SV) in particular, with IPV being the most common form of violence against women.
Socio-economic stressors such as financial pressure, employment, food insecurity, and family relations stand out as having a significant impact on experiences of safety (or violence) and women’s well-being overall. Many women and girls have been victims of abuse or witnessed femicide in their homes, often at the hands of men who are alcoholics.
INERELA+ South Africa monitors cases of sexual and gender-based violence. As part of the UN Women project, INERELA+ South Africa conducted training of ten (10) Religious Leaders from different communities in and around Kimberly in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa. The trained Religious Leaders used their influential positions in their community to conduct workshops on GBV in their respective communities and churches. The workshops reached between 500 to 800 people.
To learn more about this intervention, click here.