Don't suffer in silence: A lifeline for victims of GBV this Festive Season

LIFESTYLE NEWS - With Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) officially declared a national disaster, the National Shelter Movement of South Africa (NSMSA) is calling for urgent awareness and support now that the 16 Days of Activism campaign has come to an end, and with the country entering the Festive Season, which is recognised as a potentially high-risk period.

At the heart of this call is the NSMSA’s toll-free, 24-hour National GBV Shelter Helpline – the only national service dedicated solely to the rapid placement of survivors into safe houses and shelters, operating around the clock.

“Since launching in December 2020 – with support from the Ford Foundation – the helpline has received more than 20 000 calls and facilitated thousands of life-saving placements for women, men, children, foreign nationals, refugees and asylum seekers fleeing domestic violence (DV), intimate partner violence (IPV), sexual violence, stalking and other life-threatening situations,” says NSMSA.

With the holidays fast approaching, likely with increased risk to women, the National GBV Shelter Helpline offers discreet, immediate access to safe accommodation and support.

And with additional support from partners – including an Uber transport programme in select provinces – survivors can be moved quickly and quietly to safety, even after hours.

“South Africa’s femicide rate remains five times higher than the global average, with a woman killed every few hours, often by a current or former partner. Femicide refers to the intentional killing of women or girls because of their gender, frequently rooted in prolonged cycles of domestic abuse. But shelters serve to interrupt that cycle, not only providing immediate protection but also through counselling, psychosocial support and legal guidance. For many, a shelter placement is literally the difference between life and death,” says NSMSA.

Gender-based violence isn’t limited to physical harm. Victims/survivors contact the helpline for many forms of abuse, including emotional and psychological harm, financial and economic control, sexual abuse and coercion.

The helpline is also receiving an increasing number of calls from male victims, trafficked persons, and people with compounded vulnerabilities. And there have also been queries regarding digital (or online) harassment and stalking, as well as spiritual or cultural abuse.

According to NSMSA, “However, even as more and more people, especially women and children, need support from shelters, the National GBV Shelter Helpline and the shelters it supports are under mounting strain.

For nearly two decades the NSMSA has highlighted the impact of chronic funding shortages and the overall lack of support.

To safeguard operations and ensure 24/7 availability, the NSMSA is calling on individuals, corporates and philanthropists to donate to its Back-a-Buddy campaign.

“Contributions will ensure that the helpline stays active, with surplus funds going towards supporting operational costs for shelters, around the country. Every successful placement represents a life diverted from harm, a crisis de-escalated and a survivor who now has a chance to rebuild,” says the NSMSA. “We urge South Africans to stand with us – share the helpline details, support the campaign, and help keep this essential service alive,” adds NSMSA