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what's the point of activism against gbvf?
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, emerging data and reports from those on the front lines have shown that all types of violence against women and girls, particularly domestic violence, has intensified.
This is the growing ‘shadow pandemic’ – and we need a global collective effort to stop it. As COVID-19 cases continue to strain health services, essential services – such as domestic violence shelters and helplines – have reached capacity.
In South Africa, crime stats for the 1st quarter of 2021 revealed that 10 006 people were raped between April and June 2021.
This is an increase of 4 201 cases – or 72.4% – compared to the previous reporting period.
A sample of 5 439 rape cases revealed that 3 766 of the rape incidents took place at the home of the victim or the home of the rapist, and 487 rape cases were domestic violence-related.
With the 20th anniversary of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November, we ask if any such campaigns really make a difference to the shocking prevalence of rape in our country.
To help unpack this question and more, host Ryan Fortune will be joined in the Bush Radio 89.5 FM studios by Joy Lange, Director of St Anne’s Homes, and Patric Solomons, Director of Molo Songololo, two people and organisations that have long been engaged in the fight against this scourge of South African life.
Narissa Philander, Senior Psychology Lecturer at Cornerstone Institute, will help to facilitate the discussion.
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You can follow the conversation on Cornerstone’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.
Facilitator & Speakers
Facilitator: Narissa Philander, Senior Psychology Lecturer, Cornerstone Institute
Narissa is a Senior Clinical Psychologist, registered with the Health Profession Council of South Africa (HPCSA) and the Board of Healthcare Funders (BHF). She graduated from the University of the Western Cape with a BA honours in psychology and from the University of Cape Town with a master’s in clinical psychology.
Narissa has worked as a clinical psychologist in a variety of settings over the past 20 years. This includes psychiatric hospitals, NGOs, private practice, community involvement and academic institutions.
Apart from being an experienced clinical supervisor, Narissa is passionate about training professionals and social justice. She is currently a Senior Psychology Lecturer at Cornerstone Institute.
Narissa has also worked as a facilitator and retreat guide. Her most recent certification is as a facilitator of life skills training and as a life coach through the Academy of Life Coaching. She is also a qualified Montessori directress.
Joy Lange, Director: St. Anne’s Homes
Joy Lange changed lanes from the corporate world to NGO work. Since 2009, she has served as the Executive Director of St Anne’s Homes, a short-term care facility for the abused, pregnant and homeless women, with their children.
Joy is fulfilling her life purpose of empowering women and children who are survivors of gender-based violence. She studied Child and Family Studies and is passionate about community upliftment and transformation.
Grateful for a supportive family, she is able to lobby and advocate on GBV issues on local, national and international platforms. Joy serves on the boards of the Global Network of Women’s Shelters and Africa Network of Women’s Shelters. She is an Executive of the National Shelter Movement and the Founding Member of the Western Cape Women’s Shelter Movement.
Joy has spoken at various international conferences. The International Alliance for Women (TIAW) World of Difference Awards recognised Joy for her work at St Anne’s in support of women’s economic empowerment and advancement. TIAW recognises 100 women from around the world for their “actions, efforts and inspiration (that) truly do make a ‘World of Difference’ in supporting the advancement of women”.
As a mentor, Joy facilitated capacity-building workshops for various victim empowerment NGOs as well as a multi-sectoral engagement workshop – ‘Developing Referral Pathways’ – for victims of crime and violence in Oudtshoorn and surrounding areas. This was in partnership with the Provincial Department of Social Development.
Knowing that she is part of ensuring positive deposits into the future is what makes her persevere in the fight against GBV. In her free time, she enjoys outdoor adventures with her family.
Patric Solomons, Director: Molo Songololo
Patric Solomons is the Executive Director of Molo Songololo, an organisation that works to protect and defend children through awareness, education, training, advocacy and support. Patric is in charge of managing and developing the programmes at Molo Songolo. He has made significant contributions to the development of the child rights framework in South Africa through his work.
He has taken part in various initiatives, forums and platforms including: advocating for the establishment of a Commissioner for Children in the Western Cape; the South African Human Rights Commission’s Section 5 Committee on Children; facilitating the inclusion of children in national and provincial public decision-making processes; drafting of the National Child Participation Framework with the Department of Social Development (DSD) and Save The Children; and establishing Social Cohesion Advocates under the Department of Arts and Culture.
Patric has also been involved in the provincial and national Child & Families Forum and Child Protection Forums, led by the DSD; establishing the national and provincial task teams against human trafficking for the National Prosecuting Authority; establishing the Provincial Advisory Council for Children in the Premier’s Office; establishing the Southern African Network Against Abuse and Trafficking of Children; and Establishing the National Committee on the Rights of the Child.
Patric has been instrumental in implementing various child law reform processes. He was also part of the advocacy for, and participated in, the development of the 2010 FWC Child Protection Plan; pioneered the campaign against trafficking in children and child sexual exploitation in South Africa; established The Molo Show – a TV show aimed at improving SABC children’s programming; organised the Children’s Summit and supported child delegates from all over South Africa to draft the Charter on the Rights of Children in South Africa at the 1992 International Summit on the Rights of Children in South Africa.