ARE YOU ALREADY IN THE CYCLE?

Abusive Phase 

Honeymoon phase 

Tension-building phase 

GET HELP!

• Ideally, try to make plans to find safer accommodation and arrange for housing.

• Pack essentials (identity document and other essential documents you may need, a fresh set of clothes to change into, money, and store a bag in an out-of-reach area to prevent anyone from finding it.

• Get a divorce- Visit your nearest Regional Court and communicate with the clerk of the court to advise you on the documentation required and forms needed to be filled out.

Go to a shelter

August - The Month of Awakening

 XOXO

AUGUST

Picture Source: Canva

Women have been fighting for equality and a world free of oppression for countless years, and during eras in which rigid rules and societal norms existed, yet we still find women today struggling to fight for themselves.

Despite the progress in legislation and the welcoming of equality into our homes, the workplace, and society, women have not yet learned how to defend their independence, their freedom, and happiness, which so many before them have prayed and fought for.
Unfortunately, the rate of violence against women in South Africa has increased significantly, and clear statistics of the reality of domestic violence cannot be accurately determined, as many victims do not report their abusers.

During November last year, a 2-day Inaugural Presidential Gender-based Violence and Femicide Summit was held in Gauteng, Tshwane, South Africa.  An article by the Daily Maverick dated 25 November 2018, by Kayan Leung and Letlhogonolo Mokgoroane, focused on women experiencing gender-based violence and how the discussions through the Summit plan to take action in minimising and eliminating the dangers the women of South Africa are exposed to.

The Summit shed light on the lives of survivors of gender-based violence and their lack of resources and safety. President Ramaphosa issued a declaration on ways in which to combat the high rates of violence against women and seeking ways of including and preparing the National Strategic Plan to eradicate gender-based violence. 

Many women are not even aware of the reality of their situation; they don’t know that what they are experiencing daily is, in fact, domestic violence.

According to the Domestic Violence Act 116 of 1998, Domestic violence is defined as: -

    'domestic violence' means-
       (a)     physical abuse;
       (b)     sexual abuse;
       (c)     emotional, verbal, and psychological abuse;
       (d)     economic abuse;
       (e)     intimidation;
       (f)     harassment;
       (g)     stalking;
       (h)     damage to property;
     
(i)     entry into the complainant's residence without consent, where the parties do not share the same residence; or 
(j)     any other controlling or abusive behaviour towards a complainant,

where such conduct harms or may cause imminent harm to the safety, health, or wellbeing of the complainant;


Many women feel trapped because of the relationship, in most cases, an intimate relationship they share with their abuser, which may be a boyfriend, husband, partner, or family member. Such a relationship is deemed a “domestic relationship”. The most common types of abuse are the following, as defined in the Domestic Violence Act of South Africa:-

Picture Source: Canva

EMOTIONAL, VERBAL, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE

Whereby your partner exhibits behavior which results in, but is not limited to the following:

• A pattern of degrading or humiliating conduct towards you, be it in private or public;

• Your partner may ridicule or repeatedly insult you;

• Public humiliation, shouting and screaming in restaurants, parking lots, causing a scene at your place of work, and/ or the educational facility/ school you attend.

• Threatening to take his/her own life if you try to address the problem or if you want to             leave;

• Threaten to cause you emotional pain or display jealousy and obsessive
   possessive, which results in restricting your privacy, freedom, integrity, and security.

     

PHYSICAL ABUSE

This may start with a push or tug and, over time, turns into any act or threatened act of physical violence towards you.

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via GIPHY

via GIPHY


XOXO