BuaNews (Tshwane)
Gabi Khumalo
21 August 2008
analysis
Government departments working together with various civil society stakeholders through the Victim Empowerment Programme (VEP) have helped many victims of gender-based violence overcome their problems.
The programme, which was officially launched in August 1998, is a critical component of the Government's National Crime Prevention Strategy, which supports victims of crime with a bias towards victims of domestic violence, rape and other forms of abuse.
It focuses on prevention of victimisation, providing support, protecting and empowering victims of crime and violence. A special focus is placed on vulnerable groups such as women, children, elderly and people with disabilities.
South African Police Services (SAPS) Constable Nonjabulo Mogale, who is the VEP co-ordinator at Alexandra Police Station in Gauteng, said the implementation of the programme together with the support from government and NGOs have helped change the lives of many victims.
Ms Mogale said the VEP at the Alexendra Police station was working in partnership with two NGO's, the Kids Clinic and Agisanang Domestic Abuse Prevention and Training (ADAPT), to assist victims with trauma counselling.
"If a victim comes into the station to report a rape incident the police officers assist them by taking them to the Victim Support Unit, which makes it easier for victims to open a case and get trauma counselling and medical assistance," Ms Mogale told BuaNews.
The VEP also has a doctor, who is employed by the Kid's Clinic, who comes in twice a week to do volunteer work for the programme.
"The help offered to the victims through partnership within the departments and NGOs makes a huge difference for the victims to overcome their problem, follow ups are also being made by visiting the victims to ensure that justice has prevailed and check ups whether further assistance is needed," Ms Mogale said.
She commended the government for establishing the VEP as it renders all the services needed by the victims in one place, which enables more convenient access.
"The partnership makes it easier for the victim not to be sent from pillar to post but receive all services under one roof, I encourage the victims to make use of the police station as they are there to help them but mostly it is their right to do so," Ms Mogale told BuaNews.
Grace Mosia, who is a VEP Community Developer at the Bloemfontein Department of Social Development, told BuaNews that the province had established 12 shelters and two one-stop centres, which provides services to victims of gender-based violence.
She said the department works in partnership with various Community Based Organisations (CBOs), civil society groups and NGOs to provide training and facilitation to the new shelters.
"The shelters provide services to victims of gender-based violence, especially women referred by the SAPS and social workers.
"If our partners [Police and social workers] realise that it is not safe for the victim to go back home, they send them to us for accommodation at the shelters, where they stay between one week to three months," she said.
While in the shelters, the victims are empowered with life skills programmes, counselling and recounselling.
Sharing the same sentiment, Ms Mosia said the integration of government department services were vital for the effective implementation of the VEP.
"If the programme can be implemented effectively by the departments, victims of gender-based violence could get assistance anytime they need it and won't find themselves in the shelters or living in the same house with the perpetrator," she told BuaNews.
Ms Mosia's message to victims of gender-based violence was to take note of every little sign of abuse and put an end to it.
"You don't have to go to school to be aware of the abuse, take note of everything, no matter how little it looks, even a little push.
"Women should be vocal and speak in one voice just like the women of 1956 who stood up against the pass laws, we can also win this battle [abuse] if we fight together by speaking out, support each other and seek help," she said.
To mark its tenth anniversary this year, the Department of Social Development in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and European Union (EU) hosted a three-day VEP Conference, which started on Monday at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban.
In supporting the VEP programme, the EU and UNODC pledged R20 million over a three year period to strengthen existing shelters and programmes.
Themed "Victim Empowerment in South Africa", the conference was used as a vehicle to reflect on progress with regard to achievement, challenges and limitations of the VEP since its inception.
The deliberations at the conference would also assist future planning.
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