The United Nations marked the annual 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence from November 25 to December 10, 2021. We at Cape {town} Etc will be using our platform to raise awareness over this period.
“Gender-based violence and femicide is not a secondary priority. It is not a women’s issue. Gender-based violence is overwhelmingly and unequivocally a human rights issue.” – President Cyril Ramaphosa.
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Day 14: GBV increases mental health strain in the shadow of COVID-19
A “shadow pandemic” of increased violence against women and girls has followed in the footsteps of the COVID-19 pandemic, with heightened mental health impacts on victims of gender-based violence that will outlast the physical health sequelae of the pandemic.
While the economic, social and physical health impacts of COVID-19 take up the spotlight, the pandemic has also worsened South Africa’s already high rates of mental illness and gender-based violence, says specialist psychiatrist Dr Yumna Minty, of the South African Society of Psychiatrists (SASOP).
Studies have shown that women who are victims of physical or sexual violence usually at the hands of their partners are more than likely to go through clinical depression as women not exposed to interpersonal violence, and are at greater risk of attempting suicide.
SASOP has called for firmer policy interventions and improving multi-stakeholder collaboration between government agencies (police, justice, health, education and social development sectors), civil society and NGOs for an integrated and coordinated response to the problem.
“With a new variant of the coronavirus recently identified and the prospect of a fourth wave of infections and renewed restrictions on the cards, we also need to ensure that both government and civil services such as helplines, victim support centres and shelters are able to remain operational regardless of lockdown level and can extend their capacity for online and telephonic advice and counselling”, says Dr Minty.
“Given that remote working under pandemic conditions means that women may be stuck in their home environment with an abuser and be unable to leave or make a phone call to seek support, alternatives such as SMS and WhatsApp helplines have provided these women with a lifeline and should be continued even beyond the pandemic.”
One in three women around the world experience physical violence. UN Women has reported that all types of violence against women and girls have increased around the globe since the pandemic began.
In South Africa, one in five women who have ever been in a relationship have experienced physical violence at the hands of a partner, and one in 16 have experienced sexual violence by an intimate partner.
Women countrywide are murdered at a rate that is four to five times the global average. Women make up two-thirds of the victims of sexual offences, including rape, and South Africa’s prevalence of rape is among the highest in the world, standing at five to six times the global average.
Similar to other countries, domestic violence reports to the police and calls to helplines increased in South Africa with the onset of lockdowns to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Even before the pandemic, worries about personal safety and becoming a victim of crime affected South African women more than men. Women in South Africa are fearful of walking alone in their own neighbourhoods in daylight or at night, walking to work or shops, taking public transport, and allowing their children to play freely in public open spaces or walk alone to school.
Many suffer from common mental disorders such as anxiety and depression and psychological distress since the outbreak of COVID-19, and many turning to drugs and alcohol to cope.
The ongoing fears and the mental health impacts have a knock-on effect on how women are able to function in society in their multiple chosen or designated roles as mothers, wives, caregivers, educators, employees, professionals or business owners.
“Women play such an integral role in both formal and informal social and economic structures – it is imperative to consider their needs and support them”, Dr Minty said.
“Prevention and change starts with education and empowerment of both men and women. We need to move away from a patriarchal social structure and improve the economic status of women, along with better access to healthcare and education that empowers women rather than promoting submissiveness.”
“For both women and men, we need to improve access to public mental healthcare and do better in combatting substance abuse that fuels violence”, Dr Minty concluded.
Gender based violence resources South Africa:
- Rape Crisis Cape Town Hotline: 021 447 9762
- South African GBV Hotline: 0800 428 428
- Tears Foundation: 010 590 5920 / www.tears.co.za / [email protected]
- Childline South Africa: 0800 055 555 / www.childline.org.za / [email protected]
- People Opposed to Woman Abuse: 011 642 4345 / www.powa.co.za / [email protected]
- Community Intervention Centre Helpline: 082 821 3447
- Free Legal Advice on WhatsApp (LawForAll): 063 603 3759
- Stop Domestic Violence Helpline (Lifeline): 0800 150 150
- Suicide Helpline: 0800 567 567
- SAPS: 10111
- National Counselling Line: 0861 322 322
- Legal Aid: 0800 110 110
Useful websites:
- https://www.thewarriorproject.org.za/resources/
- https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_speech/THUTHUZELA%20Care%20Centres.pdf
- https://rapecrisis.org.za/
Also read:
Day 13: Western Cape government continue to support shelters for victims of GBV
Picture: Unsplash