I worked with the social media team to launch Know Your Rights Campaign. The goal of the campaign is to make the law related to gender-based violence (GBV) accessible to the public, so that our audience can better understand their rights around experiencing GBV and accessing help. The basic framework includes understanding GBV, prevention of GBV, and response after GBV. Every Friday, we will introduce a topic and related laws on our social media account. For example, the forms and causes of GBV, how to apply for a protection order, how to lay a charge with the South African Police Service, and how to collect admissible evidence. We used different forms like picture, comic, video, and GIF to make the law and regulations vivid and easy to understand.
Week 1: Abusive Relationship
Abusive relationships are often deceptive. Like a rose, the relationship appears to be pretty and perfect from the outside and the abuser appears to be caring and kind. However, all is not what it seems.
Many abusive relationships begin with love-bombing (over-the-top acts of attention and affection) before turning into emotional, physical and / or sexual abuse. Survivors of domestic violence may find it difficult to leave, as the abusers often apologize and give gifts like flowers to prevent their partner from leaving and seeking help.
Under South Africa's Bill of Rights, you have the right to freedom and security including from violence, torture, and being treated or punished in a cruel, inhuman or degrading way. It is important to Know Your Rights if you are in an abusive relationship, so that if you are ready to leave you know what rights you are protected by and better understand the abuse that has taken place.
Week 2: The Right to Freedom
All people are born free and equal in dignity and rights. Gender-based violence is a violation of your human rights. You have the right to be free from discrimination, to be free from torture and degrading treatment, the right to safety and the right to life.
Regardless of your gender, sexuality, race, class and age we are still entitled to and protected by the same rights. You are also entitled to seek legal help if your human rights are violated.
Week 3: The Right to Equality and Fair Treatment
We all have and are protected by the same rights. Gender-based violence doesn’t discriminate meaning that anyone can be a victim or perpetrator.
However, when coming forward about your abuse you may experience discrimination or be treated poorly. You may face discrimination when seeking access to shelters (this is experienced by many LGBTQ+ survivors), when reporting to the police, and in other places.
In South Africa, you have the constitutional right to equality and fair treatment. This includes that ‘everyone is equal before the law and has the rights to equal protection and benefit of the law.’
Week 4: What is Gender-based Violence?
According to the United Nations it is an act of violence that ‘results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivations of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life’. Gender-based violence can also include emotional violence, stalking and forced marriage.
GBV doesn’t only affect women. Anyone can experience GBV regardless of their gender, sexuality, age and any other aspect of their identity.
Week 5: The Cause of GBV
The perpetrator is ALWAYS the cause of violence. Some GBV survivors believe that they’re to blame responsible for the abuse, but this is not the case. We’re here to help survivors if and when you’re ready to come forward about their abuse and seek support.
Week 6: Does what I wear mean I deserve to be raped?
Many abuse survivors experience victim blaming when coming forward about their abuse.It doesn’t matter what the survivor was wearing, where they were or who they were with. It’s not their fault. Survivors should be believed and supported when they open up about their experiences.
......