The College of Law and Management Studies hosted a two-day colloquium in commemoration of Women’s Month under the theme: Eradicating Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Harassment: Are We Doing Enough?
Facilitated by the School of Law’s Advocate Victoria Balogun-Fatokun the sessions featured academics, lawmakers, activists, representatives of state departments, survivors, students and student representatives.
Welcoming participants on day one, Acting Vice-Chancellor in the College, Professor Brian McArthur said that whilst he was delighted to work with such an esteemed panel, he is also saddened that this burning issue remains pervasive within our borders and globally. He requested a moment’s silence to acknowledge all who have been impacted by GBV.
‘Despite persistent grassroots campaigns, and discussions such as these today, many women and children in South Africa continue to suffer abuse. Sadly, a global pandemic has meant that South Africa’s GBV problem is getting worse,’ said McArthur.
Welcoming participants on day two of the symposium, Dean and Head of the School of Law, Professor Managay Reddi expressed her frustration that marking August as Women’s Month seems to trigger men to commit vicious and barbaric forms of violence against women. She expressed her hope that small steps like the webinar would contribute to stemming this scourge.
Reddi also acknowledged Mr Bathandwa Mki, the brains behind the colloquium: ‘If more men could emulate Mki’s example, by making the eradication of GBV their problem and a project requiring their action, what a marvellous impact this will have.’
Dignitaries who addressed the conference included: Member of the KZN Legislature and Minority Front Leader, the Honourable Shameen Thakur-Rajbansi; National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) representative Advocate Omashani Naidoo; Prophetess Nomusa Dhlomo; Pro Vice-Chancellor for Social Cohesion Professor Relebohile Moletsane; Professor JL Dube, Rural Education, School of Education at UKZN; lawyer and international development practitioner Ms Moyosore Olabintan; Speaker of the KZN Legislature the Honourable Ms Nontembeko Boyce; and Ms Asiya Khan representing the Department of Justice.
Topics covered during the sessions included the social ills of GBV; the NPA’s role in prosecuting GBV-related offences; weaponising education to eradicate GBV; the marginalisation of women, poverty and the unending GBV cycle; the role of the state in eradicating GBV; GBV and harassment responses; GBV and harassment at the workplace; homophobic attacks, safety and psycho-social considerations when addressing GBV on our campuses; and the impact of GBV on women and children: contextualising the role of stakeholders.
Speakers also tackled controversial questions such as whether GBV can be eradicated through faith-based organisations and if there is a place for men in addressing GBV. Such questions have the potential to cause divisions due to the high levels of inequality in South Africa.
‘Changing the world requires honest conversations that extensively address the social ills of our time. It is from such conversations that solutions are found. This colloquium was inspired by the need to create platforms that will equip people with the correct knowledge and informed perspectives on gender-based violence,’ said Mki.
‘The lows of this era seem to be making significant strides against the highs, in that in as much as we celebrate women’s inclusion in politics, academia, and the corporate world, at the same time GBV is making gains in our society every day. Eradication of gender-based violence needs all hands-on deck, especially us young men,’ he added.
Words: Lungile Ngubelanga
Image: Supplied