EDITOR’S NOTE

As Rise’ N Shine publication, we send a word of gratitude to the Honourable MEC for the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure for all her assistance as we restructure our organisation. Her help and insight are greatly appreciated as we step through the process. We are so glad to have her as a part of this team. In the time she has been here, she has helped to make things run smoothly and will make our organisation more efficient.

“We genuinely appreciate your willingness to contribute wherever needed. This kind of flexibility and dedication will help this company grow to its full potential.”

There will be a disability month and national disability day in the following months on the 3rd of December. That is the only time disability issues are observed, as if we are not leaving from January to October.

The most crucial solution to Gender-Based Violence is education. Education at every level is one of the critical solutions to Gender-Based Violence. GBV is a learned behavior. That means it can be unlearned. Women need to know their rights, how to report violence, and how to reject harmful gender norms. Men must understand how patriarchal structures create these harmful gender norms and how their behavior may contribute to an unhealthy dynamic. Communities need to know what GBV looks like and how to react when they see it.

Little is known about violence against women with disabilities in South Africa. Given that South Africa has a high prevalence of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), especially intimate partner violence (IPV), there is a need to highlight the violent experiences of women with disabilities within their communities, intimate partnerships, and other settings. Women with disabilities in South Africa may experience additional layers of GBV because of their disability status. Consider how gender inequality, disability stigma, and disability-specific forms of abuse shape people with disabilities’ lives and experiences of violence.

While women with disabilities do seek help after IPV and sexual violence, they encounter unique barriers to GBV service provision. Service providers and women with disabilities acknowledge various limitations to providing inclusive and accessible services to women with disabilities who experience violence.

The most important solution to Gender-Based Violence is education. Education at every level is one of the critical solutions to Gender-Based Violence. GBV is a learned behavior. That means it can be unlearned. Women need to know their rights, how to report violence, and how to reject harmful gender norms. Men need to know how patriarchal structures create these harmful gender norms and how their behavior may contribute to an unhealthy dynamic. Communities need to understand what GBV looks like and how to react when they see it.

Cuma Bokwe Editor, Rise ‘N Shine