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Helping Survivors of Abuse
AVictim-Friendly Room (VFR) provides an opportunity for victims of intimate violence (gender-based violence, child abuse, sexual offences and domestic violence) to make their statements in private and in a non-threatening environment. They provide comfort and privacy to the victims and a venue where other relevant support services can be rendered. They are often the initial point of entry into the criminal justice system and where a victim support volunteer can provide free counselling and information. Mr Schmidhauser said, “this business has been run successfully by our family for 3 generations on the foundation of family, care, support, kindness, community and unconditional giving. This is a time when we all have to do whatever it takes to care for each other so we can come through this better, bolder and whole. The safety and protection of our women and children in our community has got to be a priority and this is why we have reached out to Woodstock SAPS to assist wherever possible”
The Department of Community Safety, South African Police Services (SAPS) and Community Police Forums (CPF’s) work in partnership and play a central role in developing the community-based victim support programmes and establish victim friendly facilities and volunteer networks at all police stations to improve services to survivors of crime and violence.
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HELPING SURVIVORS OF ABUSE Schmidhauser sponsors SAPS Woodstock Police - Rape and Domestic Violence Survivors
A team of dedicated volunteers work on a 24hr (365 day) standby roster and offer their personal time, resources and support to victims of crime.
This is a free service offered to all residents in the area.
The team is often exposed to horrific crime scenes and many times need to provide people with basic essentials such as food, clothes and toiletries. This is particularly true when victims or survivors, as we like to call them, of rape and domestic violence are taken to hospitals and their clothes and belongings are retained for forensic evidence.
Most of these survivors are left severely injured and abandoned without any possessions.
According to SA Police Services 41,583 rapes were recorded in 2018/19. This means an average of 114 rapes per day with 41% of them against children.
Rape statistics are difficult to calculate accurately; however It is estimated that only I in 9 rapes are reported to police. With the present state of Covid-19, there has been a horrifying escalation in crime and violence especially against women and children. With the assistance of Heather Kirkwood who has been a Victim Empowerment Volunteer for 18 years they have created a Comfort Kit for the Survivors of Rape and/or Domestic violence.
These bags contain items such as tooth brush, tooth paste, face cloth, body cream, shampoo, underwear, sanitary pads, water, chocolate, comb, soap, information brochure on rape and counselling. A notebook, pencil, pen and coloured pencils are also included.
Mrs Kirkwood explained that during a traumatic event one of the first sections of the brain to “shut down” is the memory. Slowly these “files” will start to open and additional details of the event will appear. These details will be crucial to the case and therefore the survivor will have the means to document them. It is also hoped that by drawing, the survivor can start the process of healing.
Mr Schmidhauser is appealing to the community to assist wherever possible. Him and his team are committed to repairing the electrical and plumbing in the VEP room which needs a lot of up grading including woodwork, painting, furniture etc.
FACES EXTREME DISCRIMINATION LGBTI COMMUNITY
SA’s LGBTI community continues to face extreme discrimination, violence and inadequate healthcare
Every day, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people face violence, exclusion and discrimination in South Africa. To promote inclusivity, the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia took place on May 17th.
*Seoketsi from Limpopo was physically assaulted by a nurse and after laying a charge, a doctor refused to examine her or to sign a report about the assault. Getty Myeni, from Ermelo, knew the men who broke into her home and stabbed her to ‘fix her to become a real man’. She reported this at the local police station where she was ridiculed and mocked. Despite knowing her attackers, the police did not investigate the case.
*Thabo from Bloemfontein is resented and mistreated for his sexuality by his stepfather who wants him to toughen up and be a man. Augustine from Mpumalanga says, “My life is a hell - the name-calling, staring, insults and harassment is my daily reality.”
Family rejection when a person ‘comes out’ often results in violence, abuse and adverse health outcomes. LGBTI youth who experience family rejection are eight times more likely to attempt suicide, almost six times more likely to experience elevated levels of depression, and three times more likely to use illegal drugs than those LGBTI youth who were accepted by family members as stated by UN Women. transgender people, indicates that harassment by family and society is a contributing factor to the mental health issues of many LGBTI people. Dr Bulumko Futshane, Beyond Zero’s programme director for HIV prevention under the Global Fund says, “Family rejection is high and leads youth to either run away from or be kicked out of their homes. Once they find themselves homeless, they are at risk of HIV infection and other sexually transmitted infections and engaging in risky sexual behaviour including sex work. Intimate partner violence is also prevalent.”
The LGBTI community is often reluctant to seek medical care or are denied access by healthcare providers due to discrimination or a lack of knowledge or experience with LGBTI health. This discrimination and stigma results in increased HIV and TB transmission because patients do not adhere to their treatment routines.
LGBTI people also face harsh experiences due to their sexual orientation in the social justice system where, while seeking help, they are exposed to discrimination, police harassment and lack of access to courts. Urgent legal and policy reforms that ensure justice and protection for all LGBTI people, who are already among the most marginalised, need to be implemented.
Beyond Zero, aligning with WHO strategy on combatting the dramatic health disparities faced by LGBTI populations, is training and sensitising healthcare workers, and engaging with law enforcement and community members to provide an accepting environment for transgender people to seek treatment and support.
