Domestic violence is one of the most critical problems facing women and girls in South Africa today. Recent studies indicate that domestic violence has increased over the past years, affecting women and girls from all spheres of society. While government has made commitments to addressing South African society's powerful cultural, traditional and religious forces as a crucial part of eliminating domestic and sexual violence, not all the stakeholders acknowledge their role in this fight. In fact, increasing religious and cultural fundamentalism exacerbates the existing strong resistance to equal rights for women. A study by Masimanyane Women's Support Centre in 2001, reported an increase in practices such as "virginity testing"; inheritance practices disallowing women from accessing the estates of dead husbands; labia stretching for male pleasure; and bride price. Many women defend these practices as a part of culture.

Policy and legislation

The South African government is committed to addressing gender-based violence (GBV) at the highest political levels. It has cited violence against women and girls as a crucial issue hampering the transformation process and impeding development.
South Africa has one of the most progressive constitutions in the world, recognising the human rights of all its citizens and embracing the principles of non-sexism and non-racism. The constitution is strengthened by the Bill of Rights that defines and enshrines the rights of all citizens and places an obligation on the state to protect and promote the rights of its citizenry.

The government's commitment is demonstrated by the establishment of institutions such as the Office on the Status of Women, the Commission on Gender Equality, the Public Protector, the Human Rights Commission and the parliamentary Joint Monitoring Committee on the Improvement in the Quality of Life and Status of Women. Government has also passed the New Domestic Violence Act that aims to provide greater protection for victims of domestic violence. This legislation was based on the principles of the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and significant measures have been put in place, such as the possibility of excluding the violent partner from the family home and a provision for securing financial maintenance for the duration of the interdict the victim obtains.

Masimanyane Women's Support Centre

Masimanyane Women's Support Centre, established in the Eastern Cape in 1996, was the first facility to offer a woman-specific service for victims of rape, domestic violence and sexual assault. Masimanyane trains women from disadvantaged communities to provide support to victims of GBV. It has grown dynamically over the past seven years and now has five offices in the province, employing some 45 people. Masimanyane has three main strategies to deal with violence against women and girls: 1) Victim support services; 2) Public education and training, and 3) Research, advocacy and lobbying.

Victim support services include crisis counselling, HIV/AIDS counselling, paralegal services and court support. HIV/AIDS has become a cross-cutting part of our work, particularly in counselling women and assisting them in taking protective measures. The paralegal services include assistance regarding legal provisions for victims of domestic violence, such as helping women to apply for interdicts and assistance in court. Support in court helps women to deal with immediate personal safety, e.g., by applying for an interdict (protection order) or finding a safe place. Masimanyane helps women to see the connections between their specific experience and that of women in general: understanding the socio-political nature of GBV helps them to eliminate feelings of guilt and make their own choices.

Through public education and training we help communities understand the impact of violence at the personal, family and community level, and on the transformation process of South African society. We also provide information and training on legislation and inform communities about Masimanyane's programmes. One of our programmes aims to garner support to end violence from men who are non-violent and committed to alleviating GBV. Gender training challenges men to examine patriarchy, religion, culture and tradition, and the ways in which they benefit men and oppress women. Masimanyane has worked with men's groups from around the country and will host a conference this year to examine existing models to involve men in ending GBV.

We also do extensive work on human rights in general and women's human rights in particular, providing education and training on national and international human rights instruments and their application, specifically on CEDAW.
Masimanyane's most recent activity is leadership training as part of our women's empowerment strategy. Research and work with grassroots women and clients have shown a great need to develop leadership skills among women within communities. While women demonstrate great courage and enthusiasm for working on women's rights, they sometimes lack the capacity to assume leadership positions. This affects their ability to forward their specific agendas.
Research, advocacy and lobbying: Masimanyane's research unit conducts studies on domestic and sexual violence that are essential for developing appropriate strategies and responses. Research findings are translated into our work with women, so that the information is a true reflection of women's lived realities. Research is a key input for advocacy, policy formulation and programme development. Research findings are always shared with provincial and national policymakers: confronting them with the inadequacies of their departments forces them to take action. For instance, one study highlighted a huge backlog in rape cases. This led the relevant minister to conduct his own investigation and establish a special Sexual Offences Court.

Successes and challenges

One of Masimanyane's most successful strategies is the integration of women from rural and urban settings, which has led to a better distribution of, and access to services such as the victim support services. Masimanyane has also worked successfully at the global level, proving that local-to-global work is possible. One of our most successful advocacy strategies was the development of an NGO shadow report, which was submitted to the UN CEDAW committee in 1998. The report provided an extensive analysis on violence against women in South Africa, pointing out the weaknesses within the government sector and civil society in addressing GBV. Its recommendations on equality and non-discrimination against women led to the development of Equality Legislation, which was passed in 2000. It shows how grassroots women's experiences can be taken up by the international community and lead to national action.

Acknowledging that we are all products of the very society we are hoping to change has been one of the most difficult challenges, since most of our staff have personally experienced GBV and some continue to face it. Another difficulty has been the issue of professional versus grassroots services. Many of the women providing the support services come from backgrounds without formal education. This sometimes leads them to feel intimidated by the professional staff and often causes tension. In addition, Masimanyane's staff and clients alike constantly face the spectre of poverty, violence and HIV/AIDS within their own families and communities. A special "Care of the Carer" programme helps them to deal with the associated stress.

For us, South African activists, violence against women is a daily challenge at a number of levels. It is not just about the women we serve, but also about our own lives and struggle for dignity and respect. Gender equality is not something external and academic: it is about transforming ourselves, our families and our communities on a daily basis.