Advocacy Against Gender-based Violence
Most of our partner projects face the challenges of sexual and gender-based violence in their communities. It affects many families, directly harming children and adults alike. That’s why E3 is supporting our partners as they seek to educate, challenge cultural norms, protect those who are vulnerable and support abuse survivors.
Some E3 partners already have experience in protecting people’s rights and transforming situations where sexual and gender-based violence exist. We are learning from their experiences.
E3’s gender-based violence programme is helping leaders change lives and give abuse survivors a voice in our partner communities.
“With tears of joy, I thank you for this workshop because it saved the life of someone who was about to commit suicide. She was saying her husband was abusing her and no one seemed to understand her, but after the workshop she confided in me.”
A pastor in South Africa who attended a gender-based violence workshop.
Our advocacy work includes:
Workshops to raise awareness among community leaders, adults and children, and help communities take a stand and support those affected.
Life Skills programme and Girls’ Clubs for Back to School children in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
Flourish, which is run by a group of young adults from King’s Community Church in Pietermaritzburg, to educate young people about sexual health, healthy boundaries in relationships, and advocacy against abuse and rape, as well as encouraging dialogue between church and community leaders, NGOs and other key stakeholders to encourage change in society.
Lulisandla Kumntwana uses games and sport to mobilise community people and speak about sexual abuse with participants in KwaZulu-Natal. Rachel Fredlund, the Project Leader, has a wealth of experience and expertise in child protection.
Umvini Community Foundation in Pietermaritzburg is concerned about the increasing numbers of sexual abuse cases and runs workshops to educate teenagers about sexual abuse.
A children’s healing, support and recreation centre run by Inceboyenkosi Community Foundation in Swayimane reaches out to 450 women, children and young people.
Acts of Faith in eSwatini ran a workshop in 2019 with orphaned and vulnerable children in Manzini to check on the children’s physical, emotional and spiritual health. It gave the children a voice, highlighted how AOF could continue to support them and enabled the children to teach their peers about abuse.
Sexual abuse and violence are major issues in South Africa:
80%
Of all reported sexual offences are rape, and 68.5% of the victims are females.
40%
Of rapes are committed against children.
19%
Of child abuse cases in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape were referred to the Police by Social Services.
3,260+
female adolescents aged from 10-14 years old gave birth in 2018 (Recorded Live Births).