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We launched the #KnowYourRights awareness work on our social media platforms to ensure that rape survivors are aware of the health rights and health services that they are entitled to access. In an effort to speak directly to specific instances of sexual violence, the mini-campaign introduced our online community to 6 characters – characters that we could either see ourselves in or recognise as members of our communities – and their experiences with rape and gender-based violence.
The Department of Social Development is developing legislation – The Victim Support Services Bill – which is currently open for comment. When a bill is open for comment you can make your voice heard by making a submission (in this case, to the Department of Social Development) with your input.
Life as we knew it in South Africa came to a screeching halt in late February when the novel coronavirus hit our shores. We had read the news but were not prepared for what life would be like once this mysterious virus was close to home. Suddenly it felt like the world had become a real-life episode of Black Mirror. Hysteria almost spread faster than the virus itself and four months later, the effects of both have been tragic and fatal. Now it feels like none of us have been untouched or unaffected by loss of life, health, safety and security.
For survivors of sexual violence, the associated health risks are a big part of the healing journey. In partnership with AmplifyChange, a sexual and reproductive health rights fund, Rape Crisis has been hosting a series of workshops on these risks. These workshops are centred on the free sexual health services we all have a right to access, where to find these services, and what to do and how to complain if we do not get access to them. Getting the message out beyond these smaller workshop spaces was a challenge that AmplifyChange wanted to help us solve.
Being a black woman can be quite a phenomenon.. the kind of ‘endangered species’ phenomenon.
One moment we go ‘black lives matter!.. black lives matter’. The next we hear or read of our kind being found raped and murdered. Then it’s like.. women’s lives matter too!!
And then we are hurt, angry, sad and terrified. We don’t know what to do. Then we are moved to be part of every action/march/protest against GBVF (Gender based violence and femicide) that there is.. but then we realise these actions do not translate to change or less cases of GBVF. But we do get the needed feeling of having done something and being in solidarity- we are angry together.. we are triggered differently but together.. we cry together.. we voice our concerns together.. we put forward how these can be addressed, together.
The world is changing, things around us are changing. There is a new normal, which some consider abnormal. For example, working from home, a lot of work is being done digitally. A lot of agility is required. That on its own has brought anxiety to a lot of people.
I enjoy working from home in my own space (as I become more productive, not worrying about traffic). However, I have realised it is easy to slip into burn out if you don’t establish or put boundaries in place.
—–Read Neliswa Tshazi’s essay from the book Living While Feminist
Becoming
At the beginning, it wasn’t called feminism. It was called an attitude problem. I informed my mother that I disliked cooking and had no interest in learning. My precious mother tolerated this, in spite of disapproval by the rest of the family and neighbours. She did not force me as any mother would have. Instead she allowed me to be the bookworm I am and gave me space as well as support to pursue my studies.
Dreams are not all dreamy
We all dream although we don’t always remember our dreams. Dreams are a bit like the brains way of processing all the stuff that has been going on throughout the day including things that you may be struggling with. We might wake up and chuckle a bit or are puzzled by them because our dreams can be a little bizarre or extraordinary or impossible in reality. Many people have at one time or another had a nightmare. For a survivor of sexual violence, nightmares are no laughing matter. They are a symptom of trauma. One of several troubling symptoms that can recur years after the incident has happened.
South Africa has been in lockdown for more than a week now – facing a national disaster for the first time since the inception of our democracy. For many South Africans this causes financial loss, uncertainty, uncomfortable living arrangements, and stress about what tomorrow might bring. A fortunate few could afford to enter panic-buying mode and some could embark on doomsday-like preparations but many others find themselves in exceedingly difficult circumstances.