How do your communities, nation handle Sexual Gender Based Violence cases?

[Barbara]

In my community Rakai, the organisation worked together with police and probation office and set up a toll free hotline where cases are reported and organisation follows up for redress. For sustainability, Voluntary Health Team (VHT) members are trained on how to use it and report cases.

Topic

[Steven]

There is a lot of sensitization in the community regarding sexual gender based violence. There has been establishment of Village victim support units which are supported by different non governmental organisations where the victims report the cases. All the cases end up in the hands of the police and perpetrators are put to justice.

The only problem in Malawi is under reporting of such cases. Most of the people think these are just family issues and should be dealt with indoors as a family issue. This is why most organisations are coming in to sensitize the communities.

[Pearson]

In Malawi  these matters are handled by the police , they have special unit the handles such such cases called the Victims Surport Unit, in is very vibrant and recieves funding from Donners. So they have sensetizations in th ecommunities urging victems and communities to report cases to the police.

Local leaders have been trained to be able to intervine in Gender based violence and be able to involove the police in matters that arise in the communities.

[Anonymous]

This is a really interesting and sad conversation. It seems like there are laws on the books in many of your communities but they aren’t being enforced or have work arounds. Given that many of you have reported that (young) women have some of the highest HIV rates it is certainly a factor driving the epidemic, as Barbara points out. I’m curious what you all think is driving the sexual and GBV? Do you think it could be caused by power dynamic differences between men and women? Is it older men with young girls or is it peers?

In addition to engaging police has there been any education in schools about GBV or any engagement with the men in your community?

[Josephine]

In Uganda, cases of Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) are to village or local council chair persons in the area. This varies with the preference of the victim. It is from that point that the chairman will address the issue to his best of knowledge and latter on refer to them to the police, civil society organisations that handles these cases.

At national levels are specific legal acts and proposals that look into protection of human rights and support of SGBV survivors to include; Penal Code Act which seeks to compensate the sexually abused and punish the offenders, Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation 2010 (RHU, 2013)

Proposals and policy discussions on HIV and AIDS Prevention and Control Bill, Sexual offences bill are ongoing and if well stated will translate beneficial policies on the latter (ACORD Uganda, 2008)

 

There is generally commitment to combat SGBV in the nation with reference to regional (Great Lakes) Goma Declaration 2008, UN resolutions on SGBV. They can be reflected in different policy manual of the nation and are backed by political commitment to effect them.

[Alice]

In my community, sexual Gender based violence is common especially rape to the young girls/girl child. The cases are usually reported to the police station through  a special spot-bench, unfortunately they take long before the matters are taken to court while trying to prove the evidence. Cases  concerning rape take long and even end up un attended if the matter was not reported immediately, if the victim took a bath immediately or if there was no corroborative witness. The Law requires semen analysis to justify the offender among other physical injuries.

[Nokulunga]

In my community gender based violence is not the main issue but that might also be caused by those communities who are scared to come out and there are community organisations that also fight against gender based violence that includes “Brothers for life”

[Kagisho Baepayne]

gender based violence in our community are reported to the police. though most of the cases are not reported, some victims feels it is family matter, family members intervene. however the bottom line is that most cases are not reported.

[Charles]

In Kenya gender based violence is common mostly against women and in many cases go unreported especially rape because of the stigma this causes. In  instances when reported it is sometime resolved traditionally with the father of the girl being paid so that matter does not proceed to court as the girl in most cases a minor being forced to withdraw the complain. The slow court process also frustrate efforts to seek legal redress since the case can drag on for a year! Few cases of violence again men are now being reported especially extreme cases of wives chopping off genitals of their husbands. this tend to attract sensational  media attention and cases against the women tend to be attended to faster

More organizations dealing with gender violence need to come up to ensure young female victims of GBV are not coerced to withdraw cases and deterrent punishment meted out to offender, with the media support in disseminating such efforts .

[Barbara]

Thanks for all the responses which are very educative, what about in instances where police does not address these issues reported directly to them because of their corrupt tendencies? let us put into consideration that cultural traits also cause SGBV, therefore there is need to tap into the root causes of SGBV which is becoming one of the HIV pandemic drivers. How do we uproot the real causes and address them with the best interests of the communities at the center?

[Denver]

Sexual gender based violence

murder of babies on account of their sex,child sexual abuse, sex trafficking and forced labour, sexual coercion and abuse, neglect, domestic violence, elder abuse, harmful traditional practices such as early and forced marriage, violence against those who are deemed to bring dishonor to the family or culture, and female/male genital mutilation/cutting.

In my community some occur and are reported to the police station, then taken to court. The Public does create awareness to avoid such being kept behind closed doors.

Example There are supporting NGO’s VAW (Violence against Woman)

[Erica]

In my area  gender violence is common especially in women and children, however nowadays things are getting better because there are special spot/bench in the police stations whereby victims have to report and immediate actions is taken, although in some cases there women who still hide these issues due to culture/customs also poverty, she worries if something happens to the husband (for instance being jailed). There will be no one to cater for the family costs. she will suffer with her children and the relatives from her husband’s side will blame her. therefore things are getting better but still more efforts or education is needed

[Clever]

In Zambia, cases of gender based violence are reported to the Victim support Unit. The Victim support Unit is a unit within the Police service that handles issues of such nature. However, if the case involves some sort of physical harm, there is need for the victim to obtain a medical report that can be used in the courts of law should the case be referred to court. However, due to the fact that most victims of gender based violence are economically poor, most of the cases are never reported to the police.

[Mark]

Cases of this nature are usualy reported to the Police or ar are taken to court where they are addressed adequately. The common victims are female. Very few cases, where male are victims, are reported or end up in courts. This is so because men, out of pride and avoiding shame or being laughed at, they keep such cases indoors.

Mark Lungu

[Author]

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