GENDER BASED VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND SUPPORT PROJECT
Hlongwa CBO Network (HCBON) was established in 2001 as a community based organisation. HCBON is located in a deep rural village called Thafamasi Reserve which is an area within the municipal boundaries of Maphumulo Local Municipality under the Ilembe District Municipality.
We are committed to mobilizing communities, resources and platforms to empower, educate, and create opportunities for disadvantaged vulnerable groups which include youth, women and people with disabilities. We exist for the purpose of facilitating access, sharing information, building skills, raising awareness, enhancing global reach and impact in our community. We are committed to contributing to a just, inclusive, equitable and prosperous society.
Hlongwa CBO Network’s values are ubuntu, inclusiveness, diversity, leadership, community empowerment and development, innovation and team work. We have partnered with the Department of Health on a programme to implement the Gender Based Violence Prevention and Support Programme at kwaMaphumulo. This programme is funded by the Department of Public Works and The Independent Development Trust (IDT) is an implementation Agency for the government.
KEY FOCUS AREAS
The Gender Based Violence Prevention and Support Programme focuses on the following key areas:
- GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE which is violence that targets individuals or groups on the basis of their gender. This includes acts that inflict physical, mental or sexual harm or suffering, the threat of such acts, coercion, and other deprivations of liberty.
- DOMESTIC VIOLENCE (also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering, family violence, dating abuse, and intimate partner violence (IPV)), which includes physical aggression or assault or threats, sexual abuse; emotional abuse; controlling or domineering behaviour; intimidation; stalking; passive/covert abuse (e.g., neglect); and economic deprivation.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES
- To create awareness about the prevalence of gender based violence against women and children
- To provide safe shelter and environment for women, children and the elderly who are victims of domestic abuse
- Promote access of gender based violence victims to social welfare and health services and protection by police
- Provide support to victims and support of gender based violence and provide skills to empower them to report abuse and know the rights available to them when it comes to opening criminal cases against their abusers
- Involve various community stakeholders to mobilise support and resources to support victims and survivors of gender based violence
- Lobby and advocate for strengthening of community support services and strategies aimed at protecting women, children and the elderly and reducing gender based violence
- Increase the community capacity to better cope with the impact of conflict, gender based violence and reduce exposure of women, children, youth and elderly to violence
- Promote accountability through strengthened coordination, community participation, access to justice,police,health,prevention and response through provision of community services
EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS
GBV Command Centre: 0800 428 428 / *120*7867 from any cellphone. People with disabilities, SMS ‘help’ to 31531
Childline: 0800 055 555
South African Police Service (SAPS) Crime Stop: 08600 10111 / SMS Crime Line: 32211
National AIDS Helpline: 0800 012 322
National Human Trafficking Helpline: 0800 222 777
Stop Gender Violence: 0800 150 150
Suicide Helpline: 0800 567 567
