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Compiled by the Government Communication and Information System Date: 18 Aug 2008 Title: Victim Empowerment Programme marks 10 years -------------------- Establishing shelters to assist abused women is among the successes Government's Victim Empowerment Programme (VEP) has achieved since it started 10 years ago, writes Gabi Khumalo. Launched in 1998, VEP is a critical component of Government's National Crime Prevention Strategy aimed at making the justice process more victim friendly. The Departments of Social Development, Health, Justice and Constitutional Development, Correctional Services, Education, the South African Police Services and civil society organisations came together to create the VEP. Through the programme, 39 shelters were established in 2001 and over the years, this number increased to 89 due to the high demand from abused women. One of the shelters providing assistance to women and children who are victims of gender-based violence is the Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children (SBCWC) in the Western Cape. Speaking to BuaNews, SBCWC Director, Synnov Skorge said the centre's vision was to create a safe and secure society and a human rights culture where women and children were empowered to exercise their full rights. "The mission of the SBCWC is to provide a comprehensive range of services that are accessible and safe to women and children by working in partnership with organisations that advocate an end to violence on women and children," Ms Skorge told BuaNews. The centre's services include an emergency shelter, short and medium term residential care, an awareness programmes on women's rights, HIV and AIDS, gender-based violence, legal and socio-economic rights. The centre and shelter are funded by various organisations including the Provincial Department of Social Development. The shelter provides accommodation for victims, including 32 women and 64 children, for three months. Ms Skorge told BuaNews that while in the shelter, women are being empowered through training projects, which assist them with employment opportunities like Chef Assistant Courses and Home-based Care Courses, among others. "We also assist them with legal advice to improve access to justice for women experiencing gender-based violence. The project focuses on legal advice and assistance, training workshops and advocacy in matters relating to family law," she said. The centre also runs workshops discussing various topics including protection orders, maintenance, social grants, divorce, child custody and women's rights. The vision of the centre is to educate, empower, support and transform women and children who have been abused. She however noted that one of challenges the centre was facing was that despite the extended period granted for women to stay in the shelter, women were reluctant to leave as they felt safe and secure at the centre and had difficulty in finding affordable housing. She said that through counselling, support groups, workshops, house meetings and childcare services, many women have managed to walk away from their abusive relationships. "We've assisted them to walk out of our doors empowered and effectively skilled," she said. The VEP plans to open a computer resource centre this year to increase job opportunities for women and a youth centre to help the youth to access the facility to do their school projects. To mark its tenth anniversary this year, the department of Social Development in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and European Union (EU) is hosting a three-day VEP Conference, which started on Monday at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban. In supporting the VEP programme, the EU and UNODC pledged R20 million over a three year period to strengthen existing shelters and programmes. Themed "Victim Empowerment in South Africa", the conference would be used as a vehicle to reflect on progress with regard to achievement, challenges and limitations of the VEP since its inception. The deliberations at the conference would also assist future planning. Social Development Deputy Minister, Dr Jean Swanson-Jacobs is expected to open the conference. - BuaNews |
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