ABOUT THE GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE ACTIVISTS (GBV) PROGRAMME
The Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Activists Programme is a Department of Community Safety and Liaison initiative. The GBV Activists will perform defined functions of GBV crime prevention, working with the South African Police Service to provide support to victims and survivors of crime and violence, including GBVF victims as well as their families, to deal with the impact of the incident, which they have experienced.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
GBV Activists will be deployed under the South African Police Services stations in their wards and perform the following activities: Leading community mobilization and advocacy on gender equality and non-violent approaches and dissemination of information.
- Support the prevention of GBV and domestic violence and encourage reporting of cases.
- Ensure that victims receive emotional and practical support particularly in the police stations to avoid secondary victimisation.
- Assist victims with the management of trauma.
- Refer victims to professional services (i.e. Medical, psycho-social, etc.) where necessary.
- Provision of court support services during the criminal justice process to promote the rights and responsibilities of victims through advocacy.
- Ongoing conscientisation of the victims through ensuring that the victims are aware of their rights to prevent of ongoing victimisation and breaking the cycle of violence.
