TUT raises awareness on GBV
Gender-based violence is a complex, persistent, and often an unspoken force in many organisations, and universities are no exception. As a way to address gender-based violence in institutions, TUT Polokwane launched its first gender-based violence and femicide campaign on April 13 under the theme #SAEDagainstGBVF, as an effort to make TUT a safe space for students and staff.
According to the university’s division of Student Affairs and Extracurricular Development, the purpose of the campaign was to create awareness on GBVF and to provide students with the tools to assist them should they come across situations of GBV, moreover contribute to students’ social development in the context of a student centred environment.
The event hosted guest speakers who shared context and background on the topic.
Siyabonga Ntamo, the public relations officer of student affairs and extra curricular development, told Polokwane Observer that the intention to launch the GBV campaign was to inform, educate, and also empower students with tools that can assist to deal with GBV and related issues.
“We are primarily focused on preventing any kind of GBV from occurring in our campus, but if our students have fallen victim to such violence we would want them to be empowered and to know what services are available to institutions so that they can be able to deal with the issue moving forward.
Education officer from the Gender Equality Commission, Nkhensani Hlakani highlighted the types of GBVF.
“Gender-based violence is rooted in gender inequality and power relations and so we often see these perpetrators having a sense of entitlement. That is why, when we ask why they violate another person they will say its because of this and that, so it means that they want to be listened to and in be control.”
She added that according to the statistics on GBV in South Africa, last year only R24.8b was budgeted to assist to curb GBV, part of it which goes to facilities for victim empowerment centres, such as the police, and departments of Social Development and Health.
Dr Khosana Tladi remarked that the time to address gender-based violence is now.
“It is our responsibility to brighten the corner which we are in. There is no right time to navigate the talk on GBV, the time is now. Commit yourself to brighten the corner where you are”.