A booklet aimed at informing the Stellenbosch community of solutions to survive gender-based violence (GBV) was recently released by a student organisation within Stellenbosch University’s (SU) law faculty.
“Making sure that there are groups of people out there who make it their mission to [ensure] that everyone has equal access to information so that they can stand up for their rights, is invaluable,” said Jess Dewhurst, guest speaker at the launch of the booklet and chief executive officer and founder of the non-governmental organisation (NGO), Justice Desk.
The members of Students for Law and Social Justice (SLSJ) want to “make [victims of GBV] realise they do not have to suffer in silence”, according to Tanweer Mohamed, the 2021 head of outreach coordinator for SLSJ.
An informational booklet on gender-based violence, compiled by the Students for Law and Social Justice (SLSJ), was launched on 28 March and was attended by MatieMedia. PHOTO: Joseph Bracken
The launch of the booklet included both digital versions and hard copies, which will be handed out to NGOs, stated Christopher Breetzke, current chairperson of SLSJ. Hard copies are currently limited but the SLSJ are actively looking for sponsors to help with printing and distribution, explained Amy Cotterell, current research coordinator of SLSJ.
The SLSJ has reached out to many NGOs, such as Her Voice and Langa for Men, who have shown interest in the project, said Cotterell.
A long time coming
The booklet includes information on different forms of GBV, what to do if you or someone you know has been affected by GBV, and the relevant GBV helpline contacts within Stellenbosch, explained Cotterell.
The production process originally began in 2020 and was the cumulative work of past and present members of the SLSJ, said Breetzke.
Jess Dewhurst, the guest speaker and chief executive officer and founder of Justice Desk (left), with Amy Cotterell (right), research coordinator of the Students for Law and Social Justice, at the launch. PHOTO: Joseph Bracken
The creators of the booklet had meetings with people such as Dr Stephan van der Merwe, Senior Attorney at the SU Law Clinic and Boitumelo Boshupeng, Provincial Communications Practitioner at Legal Aid SA, explained Mohamed. The process also included a trip to the South African Police Service Stellenbosch to learn about the process of reporting GBV incidents, he added.
“Based on these meetings and using the SA GBV booklet, the 2021 team and I tried to compile a GBV booklet relevant to Stellenbosch inhabitants,” said Mohammed.
The project originally began with his predecessor, Emma Lowe, said Mohamed. It started with the idea of a project to inform neighbouring communities in Stellenbosch of their core human rights, explained Mohamed.
Guest speaker, Jess Dewhurst, gave a presentation on gender-based violence (GBV) on the night of the GBV informational booklet launch. “[Ensuring] that everyone has equal access to information so that they can stand up for their rights is invaluable,” said Dewhurst. PHOTO: Joseph Bracken