LIFE ORIENTATION

GENDER BASED VIOLENCE (GBV)

GRADE 11
Term 2 Weeks 1-4
 Term 2 – Week 1
Unequal power relations

1. Research incidences of gender-based violence

(GBV) in SA and the world

2. Differentiate between the forms of violence e.g.

o domestic violence or abuse
o sexual violence or abuse
o rape
o Physical violence or abuse
o emotional violence or abuse
o mental violence or abuse
o femicide
o sexual harassment
What is Power Relations?
• Power relations refers to relationships in which one person has
social-formative power over another, and is able to get the other
person to do what they wish whether by compelling obedience or
in some less compulsive and even a more subtle way.

• In interpersonal interaction, the relative status, power, and/or

dominance of the participants, reflected in whether expectations
and behaviour are reciprocal, and consequently in
communicative style (see also reciprocity).

• Power relations are a key dimension in interpersonal

communication. See asymmetrical relationships; complementary
relationships; parallel relationships; symmetrical relationships.

• Relationships of dominance and subordination between different

groups
 Equal power relations vs unequal power relations

EQUAL POWER RELATIONS

UNEQUAL POWER RELATIONS

Equality in a relationship means that each Inequality in a relationship refers to an imbalance of power
person’s interests and desires are respected and between partners. In an unhealthy relationship one partner
met to a reasonable degree as opposed to just “maintains power and control over the other. Thus, one partner’s
needs dominate the relationship without much consideration for
one partner’s needs dominating the relationship. those of the other person. The relationship is therefore unequal.
 Gender Based Violence in SA
Introduction

• Gender-based violence (GBV) is a profound and widespread problem in South Africa, impacting on 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.

• There are many different definitions of GBV, but it can be broadly defined as “the general term used to capture
violence that occurs as a result of the normative role expectations associated with each gender, along with the
unequal power relationships between […] genders, within the context of a specific society.”

• The expectations associated with different genders vary from society to society and over time. Patriarchal power
structures dominate in many societies, in which male leadership is seen as the norm, and men hold the majority
of power. Patriarchy is a social and political system that treats men as superior to women – where women
cannot protect their bodies, meet their basic needs, participate fully in society and men perpetrate violence
against women with impunity.
 What is GBV?
What is GBV?

GBV can be physical, sexual, emotional, financial or structural, and can be perpetrated by intimate partners,
acquaintances, strangers and institutions. Most acts of interpersonal gender-based violence are committed
by men against women, and the man perpetrating the violence is often known by the woman, such as a
partner or family member .

Violence against women and girls (VAWG)

GBV is disproportionately directed against women and girls [4]. For this reason, you may find that some
definitions use GBV and VAWG interchangeably, and in this article, we focus mainly on VAWG.

Violence against LGBTI people

However, it is possible for people of all genders to be subject to GBV. For example, GBV is often experienced
by people who are seen as not conforming to their assigned gender roles, such as lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender and/or intersex people.
Research incidences of gender-based violence (GBV) in SA and the world
 GBV in South Africa
• Societies free of GBV do not exist, and South Africa is no exception.
• Although accurate statistics are difficult to obtain for many reasons (including the fact that most
incidents of GBV are not reported), it is evident South Africa has particularly high rates of GBV,
including VAWG and violence against LGBT people.
• 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.
• Whilst people of all genders perpetrate and experience intimate partner and or sexual violence, men
are most often the perpetrators and women and children the victims.
• More than half of all the women murdered (56%) in 2009 were killed by an intimate male partner.
• Between 25% and 40% of South African women have experienced sexual and/or physical IPV in their
lifetime.
• Just under 50% of women report having ever experienced emotional or economic abuse at the hands
of their intimate partners in their lifetime.
• Prevalence estimates of rape in South Africa range between 12% and 28% of women ever reporting
being raped in their lifetime.
• Between 28 and 37% of adult men report having raped a women.
GBV in South Africa
 GBV in South Africa
• Non-partner SV is particularly common, but reporting to police is very low. One
study found that one in 13 women in Gauteng had reported non-partner rape,
and only one in 25 rapes had been reported to the police.
• South Africa also faces a high prevalence of gang rape.
• Most men who rape do so for the first time as teenagers and almost all men who
ever rape do so by their mid-20s.
• There is limited research into rape targeting women who have sex with women.
One study across four Southern African countries, including South Africa, found
that 31.1% of women reported having experienced forced sex.
• Male victims of rape are another under-studied group. One survey in KwaZulu-
Natal and the Eastern Cape found that 9.6% of men reported having experienced
sexual victimisation by another man.
GBV in South Africa
GBV – in other parts of the world
Activity 1
a. Identify the 4 provinces with the
highest incidences of GBV
b. Critically discuss why many adult
rape cases never go to court.
c. From the pie-chart that reflects
child rape cases one observed
the following trends:
i. 9% cases with a not guilty
verdict
ii. 18% of cases have been
withdrawn
iii. 58% of cases did not go to
court.
In each case above substantiate
why a perpetrator would be
found not guilty, or a case is
withdrawn or a case did not go
to court
 Different types of violence
• Intimate partner violence (IPV)
• IPV is the most common form of GBV and includes physical, sexual, and emotional abuse and controlling
behaviours by a current or former intimate partner or spouse, and can occur in heterosexual or same-sex
couples [5].
• Domestic violence (DV)
• Domestic violence refers to violence which is carried out by partners or family members. As such, DV can include
IPV, but also encompasses violence against children or other family members.
• Sexual violence (SV)
• Sexual violence is “any sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act, unwanted sexual comments or advances, or
acts to traffic, or otherwise directed, against a person’s sexuality using coercion, by any person regardless of
their relationship to the victim, in any setting, including but not limited to home and work.” [6]
• Indirect (structural) violence
• Structural violence is “where violence is built into structures, appearing as unequal power relations and,
consequently, as unequal opportunities.
• Structural violence exists when certain groups, classes, genders or nationalities have privileged access to goods,
resources and opportunities over others, and when this unequal advantage is built into the social, political and
economic systems that govern their lives.”
• Because of the ways in which this violence is built into systems, political and social change is needed over time
to identify and address structural violence.
ACTIVITY 2 – differentiate between the different forms of violence
Forms of violence Explanation Causes Where to get help?

Femicide The intentional murder of women/ girls because

they are women/ girls

Sexual abuse, rape abusive sexual behaviour by one person upon

another. It is often perpetrated using force or by
taking advantage of another.

Incest Human sexual activity between family members

or close relatives.

Domestic violence Means that in a relationship or marriage, one or

both of the partners uses physical, sexual or
psychological violence to try to get power or
control over the other or due to losing their
temper.
Emotional abuse Is a form of abuse, characterized by a person subjecting or
exposing another person to behaviour/ feelings that may
result in mental trauma, including anxiety, chronic depression,
or post-traumatic stress disorder.

Mental Abuse Involves a person's attempts to frighten, control, or isolate

you mentally. It's in the abuser's words and actions, as well as
their persistence in these behaviours.
Both types of abuse cause intense harm to the
victim's mental health

Physical Abuse Physical violence is when a person hurts or tries to hurt a

partner by hitting, kicking, or using another type
of physical force.

Sexual harassment in Harassment of an employee is a form of unfair

the workplace discrimination based on the grounds of sex, gender and/or
sexual orientation.
 Term 2 - Week 2
Critically discuss how the factors below contribute towards GBV:, e.g.

• unequal power relations

• power balance and power struggles between
genders
• abuse of power
• social norms about the roles and responsibilities of
each gender
• patriarchy
• sexist views
• gender stereotypes -prejudice
• bigotry
• race
• sexual orientation (LGBTQI+)
 Drivers (contributory factors) of GBV
• Drivers of GBV are the factors which lead to and perpetuate GBV. Ultimately, gendered power
inequality rooted in patriarchy is the primary driver of GBV.
• GBV (and IPV in particular) is more prevalent in societies where there is a culture of violence, and
where male superiority is treated as the norm. A belief in male superiority can manifest in men
feeling entitled to sex with women, strict reinforcement of gender roles and hierarchy (and
punishment of transgressions), women having low social value and power, and associating
masculinity with control of women.
• These factors interact with a number of drivers, such as social norms (which may be cultural or
religious), low levels of women’s empowerment, lack of social support, socio-economic inequality,
and substance abuse.
• In many cultures, men’s violence against women is considered acceptable within certain settings or
situations - this social acceptability of violence makes it particularly challenging to address GBV
effectively.
• In South Africa in particular, GBV “pervades the political, economic and social structures of society
and is driven by strongly patriarchal social norms and complex and intersectional power inequalities,
including those of gender, race, class and sexuality.” .
 Unequal power relations
Critically discuss how the factors below contribute towards GBV, e.g.
Contributory factor to What is it? How does it contribute towards
GBV (Clarify the concept) GBV?
Unequal power relations

Power balance between

genders

power struggles between

gender
Abuse of power

Social norms about roles and

responsibilities of each gender

Patriarchy
 Unequal power relations
Critically discuss how the factors below contribute towards GBV, e.g.
Contributory factor What is it? How does it contribute
to GBV (Clarify the concept) towards GBV?
Sexist views

Gender stereotypes -
prejudice
Bigotry
Race

Sexual orientation
(LGBTQi
 Term 2 - Week 3
Discuss the negative effects of GBV on the health and well -being of the:
-individual,
-family and
-society:

Refer specifically to:

-physical
trauma,
-psychological
trauma
-emotional
trauma,

Explore how GBV contributes towards:

• broken family structures,
• increased social ills,
• inability to build trusting social relationships,
• burden on health and judicial systems
 The negative effects of GBV on e.g. women
Negative effects
• Violence against women can cause long-term physical and
mental health problems.
• Violence and abuse affect not just the women involved but also
their children, families, and communities.
• These effects include harm to an individual’s health, possibly
long-term harm to children, and harm to communities such as
lost work and homelessness.
 Discuss the negative effects of GBV on the health and well -being of the:

Physical Trauma Psychological Trauma Emotional Trauma

Individual

Family

Society
Effects of GBV
 Impact (effects) of gender-based violence
• GBV is a profound human rights violation with major social and developmental impacts for survivors of violence, as well as
their families, communities and society more broadly.
• On an individual level, GBV leads to psychological trauma, and can have psychological, behavioural and physical consequences
for survivors. In many parts of the country, there is poor access to formal psychosocial or even medical support, which means
that many survivors are unable to access the help they need. Families and loved ones of survivors can also experience indirect
trauma, and many do not know how to provide effective support.
• Jewkes and colleagues outline the following impacts of GBV and violence for South Africa as a society more broadly [20]:
• South African health care facilities – an estimated 1.75 million people annually seek health care for injuries resulting from
violence
• HIV – an estimated 16% of all HIV infections in women could be prevented if women did not experience domestic violence
from their partners. Men who have been raped have a long term increased risk of acquiring HIV and are at risk of alcohol
abuse, depression and suicide.
• Reproductive health - women who have been raped are at risk of unwanted pregnancy, HIV and other sexually transmitted
infections.
• Mental health - over a third of women who have been raped develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which if untreated
persists in the long term and depression, suicidality and substance abuse are common. Men who have been raped are at risk
of alcohol abuse, depression and suicide.
• Violence also has significant economic consequences. The high rate of GBV places a heavy burden on the health and criminal
justice systems, as well as rendering many survivors unable to work or otherwise move freely in society.
• A 2014 study by KPMG also estimated that GBV, and in particular violence against women, cost the South African economy a
minimum of between R28.4 billion and R42.4 billion, or between 0.9% and 1.3% of gross domestic product (GDP) in the year
2012/2013. [21]
 Activity - Research
• Explore how GBV
contributes towards:
• broken family structures,
• increased social ills,
• inability to build trusting
social relationships,
• burden on health and
judicial systems
 Term 2 – Week 4
1. Explore strategies to address unequal power relations and power
inequality between genders

2. Evaluate the efforts of the campaigns below to reduce and

prevent gender-based violence:
- Awareness campaigns, e.g. 16 Days of Activism against
Violence Against Women and Child Abuse;
- Educational Programmes such as CSE;
- Free social and legal support
 Strategies to reduce gender-based violence
• Funding women’s full participation in civil society
• Scaling up prevention efforts that address unequal
gender power relations as a root cause of gender-
based violence.
• Bringing gender-based violence clinical services to
lower-level health facilities
• Addressing the needs of child survivors, including
interventions to disrupt the gender-based violence
cycle.
• Developing support programs for professionals
experiencing second-hand trauma.
 Strategies to end GBV
• What do we do?

• South Africa is a signatory to a number of international treaties on GBV, and strong

legislative framework, for example the Domestic Violence Act (DVA) (1998), the Sexual
Offences Act (2007) and the Prevention and Combatting of Trafficking in Human Persons
(2013) Act” [22].

• Response services aim to support and help survivors of violence in a variety of ways.
Prevention initiatives look at how GBV can be prevented from happening.

• Whilst international treaties and legislation is important it is not enough to end GBV and
strengthen responses.

• Addressing GBV is a complex issue requiring multi-faceted responses and commitment

from all stakeholders, including government, civil society and other citizens. There is
growing recognition in South Africa of the magnitude and impact of GBV and of the need
to strengthen the response across sectors.
 Strategies to Prevent GBV
• Broadly speaking, approaches to addressing GBV can be divided into response and prevention. Response services aim to
support and help survivors of violence in a variety of ways (for instance medical help, psychosocial support, and shelter).
Prevention initiatives look at how GBV can be prevented from happening. Response services can in turn contribute towards
preventing violence from occurring or reoccurring.

• Responses are important. Major strides are being made internationally on how to best respond and provide services for
survivors of violence. WHO guidelines describe an appropriate health sector response to VAW – including providing post-rape
care and training health professionals to provide these services [32].

• WHO does not recommend routine case identification (or screening) in health services for VAW exposure, but stresses the
importance of mental health services for victims of trauma.

• Need to address underlying causes

• Much of our effort in South Africa has been focused on response. However – our response efforts need to be supported and
complemented by prevention programming and policy development. By addressing the underlying, interlinked causes of GBV,
we can work towards preventing it from happening in the first place.

• SACQ: Primary prevention

• For more information on prevention programmes that work, have a look at the South African Crime Quarterly 54 on evidence-
based primary prevention.
 Strategies to Prevent GBV
• Violence prevention policies and programmes should be informed by the best evidence we have available. Programmes that are evidence based
are [35]:

• built on what has been done before and has been found to be effective;
• informed by a theoretical model;
• guided by formative research and successful pilots; and
• multi-faceted and address several causal factors.
• Several GBV prevention programmes which have support for effectiveness have been implemented in South Africa. A summary of the prevention
programmes mentioned below can be found in the South African Crime Quarterly 51: Primary prevention (see table on pgs. 35-38):

• Thula Sana: Promote mothers’ engagement in sensitive, responsive interactions with their infants
• The Sinovuyo Caring Families Programme: Improve the parent–child relationship, emotional regulation, and positive behaviour management
approaches
• Prepare: Reduce sexual risk behaviour and intimate partner violence, which contribute to the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STIs)
• Skhokho Supporting Success: Prevent IPV among young teenagers
• Stepping Stones: Promote sexual health, improve psychological wellbeing and prevent HIV
• Stepping Stones / Creating Futures: Reduce HIV risk behaviour and victimisation and perpetration of different forms of IPV and strengthen
livelihoods
• IMAGE (Intervention with Microfinance for AIDS and Gender Equity): Improve household economic wellbeing, social capital and empowerment
and thus reduce vulnerability to IPV and HIV infection
 Government continues to intensify its fight against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), which
President Cyril Ramaphosa has described as the country’s ‘second pandemic’

The National Strategic Plan on GBVF

• The National Strategic Plan on GBVF is the government's

comprehensive strategy for tackling all forms of violence and
abuse against women and children. Since the launch of the
strategic plan in 2020, several new interventions have been
implemented.
• Extensive legal reform
• Support for survivors through the provision of evidence kits at
police stations
• Psychological and social services
• The establishment of a GBVF Response Fund
• Support for Thuthuzela and Khuseleka Care Centres, which
provide vital services for GBV survivors
• Around R21 billion has been dedicated over the medium-term
to the implementation of the six pillars of the plan, including the
economic empowerment of women.

Source: www.stateofthenation.gov.za/priorities/making-
communities-safer/gender-based-violence
 Activity
Evaluate the efforts of the campaigns
below to reduce and prevent gender-
based violence:
• Awareness campaigns, e.g. 16
Days of Activism against Violence
Against Women and Child Abuse;
• Educational Programmes such as
CSE;
• Free social and legal support
 Awareness campaigns, e.g. 16 Days of Activism against Violence Against Women and Child Abuse

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international

campaign that kicks off on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of
Violence against Women, and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day.

The campaign was started by activists at the inauguration of the Women’s Global
Leadership Institute in 1991. It continues to be coordinated each year by the Center for
Women’s Global Leadership. It is used as an organizing strategy by individuals and
organizations around the world to call for the prevention and elimination of violence
against women and girls.

In support of this civil society initiative, the United Nations Secretary-General launched in
2008 the campaign UNiTE by 2030 to End Violence against Women, which runs parallel
to the 16 Days of Activism.

Every year, the UNiTE Campaign focuses on a specific theme. This year’s theme
is “UNITE! Activism to end violence against women and girls” and invites everyone
to play their role in ending violence against women and girls, show support and solidarity
to women’s rights activists and to resist the rollback on women’s rights.
Educational Programmes such as CSE
 Free social and legal support
Where to Get Legal Advice for Free in South Africa: Legal advice can be expensive, but there are several options for
obtaining free legal advice in South Africa. Here are a few organizations and resources to consider:

• Legal Aid South Africa: This organization provides free legal services to individuals who cannot afford a lawyer. They
offer legal advice, representation, and assistance with a variety of legal issues, including criminal law, family law, and
housing disputes.
• Community Law Centres: These organizations are located throughout the country and provide free legal advice and
representation to individuals and communities. They focus on issues such as housing, workers’ rights, and consumer
protection.
• Public Defender’s Office: This office provides free legal representation to individuals who are charged with a crime and
cannot afford a lawyer. They also offer legal advice and assistance to individuals who are facing other types of legal
proceedings.
• Law for All: This non-profit organization provides free legal advice and assistance to individuals and communities in
need. They offer a variety of services, including legal representation, advice, and assistance with court forms and
paperwork.
• www.legaladvice.org.za is a website that provides free legal advice and assistance to individuals and communities in
South Africa. It offers legal information and resources on a wide range of topics, including criminal law, family law, and
labour law.
• It is important to note that while these organizations and resources provide free legal advice, they may not always be
able to provide representation in court. Additionally, some organizations may have specific eligibility requirements or
may only be able to assist with certain types of legal issues.
 Free social and legal support
• The Department of Social Development (DSD) of South Africa is a government department
responsible for providing social development, protection, and welfare services to the public.
Previously called the Department of Welfare, it was renamed in July 2000. The
current Minister of Social Development is Lindiwe Zulu.

• The first Department was established in 1937, to regulate and subsidise existing private,
non-governmental welfare services, while providing some additional services. The 1997
White Paper for Social Welfare noted that post-Apartheid South Africa had inherited social
welfare programmes which were “not considered to be critical social investment priorities
and were under-resourced”.

• The Department "endeavours to create a better life for the poor, vulnerable and excluded
people in society". It is tasked with reducing poverty, promoting social integration, and
creating conditions for sustainable livelihoods. The Department also conducts research that
develops the social indicators necessary for programme implementation and public
accountability.
Helpline for legal aid and GBV support
THE END