Op-Ed
Disrupting The Silence With Respect To Gender based Violence (GBV): A Powerful Discourse
Gender based Violence Photo (Image: AllAfrica)
Gender based Violence (GBV) is not particularly gender specific and can be defined as any act of violence that can result in physical, sexual, psychological harm and suffering. This includes coercion or a forced act, which leads to an arbitrary deprivation of liberty. Gender based Violence has been, and continues to be a social ill with far-reaching repercussions
A Global Perspective
According to the WHO report in 2021, there are an estimated 736 million women that suffer from Gender based Violence (GBV) globally. Almost one in every three women will suffer from acts of Gender based Violence (GBV) and/or have experienced violence starting from 15years and older. Unfortunately, most violence against women is perpetrated by either current/former husbands or intimate partners. Of which, one in four are adolescent girls aged 15 to 19.
Attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, calls to helplines have increased five-fold in some countries as rates of reported intimate partner violence increase. UN women have stated that the restricted movement, social isolation, and economic insecurity during the pandemic have led to a global increase in women’s vulnerability to violence. To curb this, by September 2020, 52 countries had integrated prevention and response to violence against women and girls into COVID-19 response plans, and 121 countries had adopted measures to strengthen services for women survivors of violence during the global crisis. However, more efforts are urgently needed.
An African Perspective
The impact of GBV; the most prevalent human rights violation in the world, on individuals is typically glaring. However, there’s another complex impact that is often ignored – the socio-economic impact.
African countries with the highest rates of gender-based violence, such as South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Liberia and Zimbabwe cannot afford any further economic challenges. This makes it imperative for such countries to seek and implement policies and legislation to fight against gender-based violence.
A South African Perspective
In South Africa a report published by the South African Police Service (SAPS) and acknowledged by the Institute for Security Studies, which covers the period between 1 April 2018 and 31 March 2019, reveals an increase of reported GBV cases compared to previous years. The number of reported sexual offences increased to 52,420 in 2018/19 from 50,108 in 2017/18, most of which were cases of rape.
The reluctance of boys and men that suffer from GBV to speak out (in a bid to create awareness and highlight issues) further compounds the situation. GBV affects women, girls, men, boys and the LGBTQ+ communities. There needs to be more research, more empirical evidence to carry forward policies, advocacy and strategies to assist, prevent and intervene in GBV against boys and men, the LGBTQ+ community, women and girls.
A Zimbabwean Perspective On GBV
According to UNFPA in Zimbabwe, about 1 in 3 women aged 15 to 49 have experienced physical violence and about 1 in 4 women have experienced sexual violence since the age of 15. Reports of domestic violence, child marriage, violence by state officials and armed guards, online abuse and other forms of GBV have increased globally and regionally during the pandemic, and Zimbabwe is no exception to this trend (SAFE, 2020).
In response to GBV cases, Zimbabwe through a multi stakeholder approach has been able to help the survivors. The Victim Friendly Unit of the Zimbabwe Republic Police has been allowing both males and females to report mainly physical violence and they have been able to refer cases for further help. NGOs like the Institute of Women Social Workers have been providing psycho-social support to the survivors and are referring such survivors to other organizations like Women and Law in Southern Africa for legal help. Further to this, survivors are referred to Adult Rape Clinic and Musasa project for medical help and safe shelters respectively. Social workers in Zimbabwe have been able to provide counselling despite the shortage of resources and have also supported the survivors with economic empowerment activities.
Despite these efforts, men and boys are always left out because of the stigma and Attitude that the service providers have towards men in relation to GBV.
GBV In The Context Of Domestic Abuse In A Relationship
Abuse can be physical, sexual, emotional, economic, or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. This includes any behaviours that frighten, intimidate, terrorise, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, injure, or wound someone. Domestic abuse can happen to anyone of any race, age, sexual orientation, religion, or gender. It can occur within a range of relationships including couples who are married, living together, or dating. Domestic violence affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and education levels.
The Warning Signs In A Relationship Likely To Have Elements Of Domestic Abuse?
Self- care is a self-regulatory mechanism where one intentionally puts effort and measures towards their well-being. Well-being would affect and be affected by the different aspects of one’s life and the choices they make. GBV does not just happen, in most cases that are subtle or obvious signs that in more often people choose to ignore for many other reasons.
Violence against women happens across a spectrum, and at the end of that spectrum in most cases, is a man who snapped or a man who violates someone or their partner because they have inherent habits of violence. It should therefore be noted that we all have the power to remedy such behaviours in order to implement societal change.
Red Flags To Pick Up At The Pre-Relationship Stage
At the beginning of a relationship, there is such bliss, so much love and uncontrollable emotions that often cloud one’s clear judgement. Looking for early warning signs is not so easy, especially if there are underlying issues that could potentially hinder mental clarity and most people tend to not want to be realistic, but to rather get lost in the bliss of the long-awaited ‘force’ of love. During the early stages, where partners are still learning and exploring one another, there is a lot of uncertainty, which makes it a little bit difficult to do a proper due diligence due to influx of emotions, sexual and physical ‘forces’ at the start of relationship. In most cases, this is where some of the issues that later emerge are missed.
Some of the things that one can do, to have an idea of who a person is, especially if they are seeking a more stable relationship, include the following:
- Establishing the values of the other person and engaging beyond the surface,
- Asking questions to get to understand the person before committing,
- Things such as life goals, values, belief systems, their past experiences, family background, and their intentions,
- Listening with extra care what a person says, to establish how they view life and their approaches to making it work. e.g., biased views on the roles of women and men,
- Unpredictability, failing to fulfill set promises etc.
- Establishing underlying signs of traits such as jealousy, elements of possessiveness, a bad temper with others, impatience and a sense of entitlement. These are some of the ways of determining personalities, characters and habits that would likely lead to domestic abuse. For example, determining if a person has narcissist tendencies could be hard to pick up instantly, because there is a list of traits that come together to create this unpleasant personality.
Red Flags During The Relationship Can Be Explored Through The Use Of The Power – Control Wheel (DULUTH Model)
During the relationship one must explore the power and control wheel which in this phase/during the relationship is easier to determine whether there are signs of domestic abuse. The wheel has been used to describe and explain domestic situations of battered women. We have seen through numerous research that GBV is progressive and occurs over a spectrum. It all starts with mild gestures that most people deem as acceptable such as harmless remarks, condescending comments here and there, excuses towards responsibilities and the likes. It then escalates to plain verbal utterances, clear and precise control which then escalate to physical and in extreme cases, loss of mental perspective or life.
Post Relationship
A personal reflection of a GBV survivor, highlights the importance of redefining focusing on better decision-making, learning from mistakes, and healing to ensure that one can better position themselves to build better and more meaningful connections in the future.
With this said it is important to empower women and to provide them with tools to get themselves out of disempowering situations. However, this should not equate to the disempowerment of men or boys, it should rather create a space to safeguard all rights and to also include men in the narrative to provide methods and means to reduce the dire effects of GBV. This should not leave the boy child bare and unattended, or the man left behind without creating mechanisms to navigate related issues or hidden suffering..
Conversations With Men In Respect Of GBV In Men And LGBTQ Community
GBV amongst men can begin at a very early age in childhood when a parent or caregiver was meant to display characteristics of love and nurture, instead the poor child was presented with maltreatment and abuse.
Let’s take a moment to imagine the scenario wherein;
“A young boy growing up in a household that is physically and emotionally abusive. His caregivers might hit, slap choke him and on other days he is being insulted, humiliated and sexually abused. These experiences end up being normal to him. He sees nothing wrong with such behaviour and has become desensitised to this life – that becomes the normal frame of his world view as a male adult.”
This is the hidden suffering of boys and men, wherein no one really talks about such experiences. These assaults are frequently not reported, thus creating a perception that GBV and SGBV only occurs to women. Furthermore, some people in the LGBTQ+ community fear being ostracised and humiliated by their microsystems, their communities and even their peers.
There are many cases where men don’t report being abused due to the lack of education, information and advocacy on such concerns. Men who do experience daily abuse often chose not to speak up because it may reduce perceived masculinity. These are the societal factors that influence the decision making to remain silent – Such are his family, education, beliefs and community.
On the contrary, men who have experienced rape, sexual abuse, violence and choose to speak out might not be taken seriously because the law enforcement does not escalate these issues because they don’t believe a male victim could go through such. Some communities find it shocking, taboo and unbelievable for men to be victims of GBV and SGBV.
The stereotypes of what it means to be a “hegemonic man” don’t give space for men to speak up about GBV and this remains a hidden issue which results in lack of research, advocacy and strategy. So far, the research done indicates that the GBV impacts men in various ways, such as using violence as a means to an end. The symptoms of GBV amongst men contributes to the overwhelming factor of GBV against women and girls. Concurrently Gender based Violence amongst men continues to be a topic that society doesn’t advocate enough.
We Need To “Stop Victim Blaming” And Rather Refer To Survivors-Reset The Narrative
“Victim-blaming” is a general term used to describe a situation where the victims are blamed for the events they experienced. In the paper written by Schwark & Bohner in 2019 defined “Victim-blaming” in discourses related to GBV tends to implicate victims and position them as responsible for their own safety, with little or nothing being said about the perpetrators’ actions. This myth, one of many “rape myths”, is reinforced by mainstream media reporting.
The meaning attached to the term “victim”, to label people who endured GBV and abuse, is increasingly considered problematic and replaced in activists’ and allies’ vocabulary with the term “survivor”, which reverses the power balance. While the term “victim” equates the existence of a person to their experience with trauma and places them in a position of vulnerability, the term “survivor” implies a future ahead. It is within this premise that we argue for the term “survivor” in such contexts instead of the term “victim” may have an impact on the misattributed judgement of blame and in turn improve reporting across the board for all those that are affected by GBV.
Help Mechanisms Include:
- Support programs – Family and Marriage Society of south Africa (FAMSA) for counselling.
- Tears Foundation for CRISIS interventions.
- The Trauma Centre for trauma counselling, and the Thuthuzela Care Centres, which are the anti-rape strategy centres to help victims from secondary victimisation.
- Helping victims and survivors with self-help programs – individual development, counselling and coaching to rebuild and restore hope in their lives- Changing Lanes Africa-: Self-awareness courses for women.
- This is normally through shelters, which in South Africa to a large extent, are much better resourced than in other African countries which may have many challenges with providing adequate support.
- Talk about your experiences to help others- Simanye Clinic Podcasts and Conversations with my brothers.
KEY TAKE HOME MESSAGE
- To have boundaries and enforce them from the on-set.
- Be realistic and don’t ignore red flags.
- Reposition yourself for better life.
- Use protection orders and maintenance orders to safeguard your rights.
- Remember you are a survivor.
- Every one of us should educate the youth about such issues and how they can be avoided or at the least alleviate the burden of GBV.
- Men should be included in the solution to reduce violence against women and children
- Men and members of the LGBTQ+ community also suffer from GBV but there are few to no statistics as they remain silent- the hidden suffering.
- GBV should not be seen as something that happens to specific people, rather should be addressed across the spectrum within which it occurs.
Acknowledgements
We acknowledge Dr Maribanyana Lebeko who is part of the advisory for Simanye Clinic for his assistance with respect to compilation, editing and proofreading of this article.
Article By: Thandiwe Maretlane, Lindo Radebe, Linah Ruparanganda and Chiedza Jowa and Dr Kim Lamont-Mbawuli. In collaboration with the National Association of Social workers, Zimbabwe and Simanye Clinic, South Africa.
Sam Tayengwa, CEO of TransUnion Rwanda and Head of Growth Africa Regions (Image: Supplied).
With more than 400 million people between the ages of 15 and 35, Africa has the youngest, fastest-growing, and arguably most digitally savvy population in the world. Given the rapid evolution of technology and research from The TransUnion Trends and Outlook Report for Personal, Commercial, and Life Insurance in 2023 showing that 47% of Generation Z indicate a willingness to purchase life and health insurance online, the potential of this market segment cannot be ignored. Companies therefore need to think smarter when it comes to delivering online insurance solutions while at the same time educating the market on how best to benefit from digital offerings.
By using data more efficiently, insurers can improve customer experiences while managing risks – especially when it comes to people who have no credit profiles. But data means little if insights are locked away inside it. The right data at the right time is essential to make trust possible. Operating in over 30 countries, eight of which are in Africa, we have proven ourselves as a partner who empowers our customers with the information needed to make more accurate predictions when it comes to managing risk, especially amongst the influx of ‘young’ consumers entering the insurance segment for the first time.
Adding further complexity to insurance markets across the continent is the continued cost of living crisis. Consumers are desperately trying to weather the economic crisis and looking at ways to manage inflationary increases, as well as fuel, food prices, and interest rate hikes.
TransUnion research has found that 67% of consumers surveyed in East and Southern Africa indicated that they have reduced their discretionary spending. But even with these cutbacks, at least one in three people are unable to pay any of their bills and loans in full. This makes the insurance value proposition, which many consumers view as a luxury expense, even more difficult to sell.
Market forces
Challenging conditions are creating a profitability challenge for insurers who have been forced to reassess their marketing and underwriting plans while looking internally at how to cut costs. Invariably, this has led to an increase in premiums for existing customers.
Digitalisation across the policy lifecycle and meeting the online expectations of the young population require insurers to rethink their approach to technology. So, while it is essential to adopt the latest innovations to digitalise more traditional insurance practices, it is not just about technology. Insurers must make sure that the human touch points remain in place to build a personal connection with their customer base.
On the flip side of this, new technologies and the use of non-traditional data sources are seeing insurers able to make the policy-writing process more accurate, efficient, and equitable. Now, insurance policies can be more effectively tailored to deliver on individual requirements as opposed to an ‘off-the-shelf’ policy.
Addressing critical needs
However, it is not enough for insurers to embrace advanced technologies and provide more innovative platforms to sell life and health products. It is also essential to transform people’s skills across Africa, especially when it comes to their awareness of insurance and how essential it is.
Part of this entails moving with people as opposed to leaving them behind. Insurance of the future is all about financial inclusion and how no person can afford not to have policies in place. The financial literacy gap when it comes to insurance and the means to buy it must be addressed. Currently, people are not catching up to the technology. This means insurers need to take a step back, review what they are doing, and ensure that they are doing their part to educate the market.
Data identity
All this combines to reflect just how important the consumer is in the relationship. Insurers have realised that it is the end-user who holds all the power in today’s uncertain market. They demand fast, easy, safe, and personalised experiences especially when it comes to essential products and services like insurance.
Consumers expect service providers to know who they are, what their likes and dislikes are, and what their most pressing concerns are all based on the data they provide. Think of this as an individual data identity that translates into a comprehensive data profile of a person – their digital DNA. This data identity influences the opportunities and experiences available to an individual. In this age of data availability, consumers can also access ‘their’ data and decide what to share with whom.
At a top level, the insurance industry faces uncertainty as regulatory bodies discuss and define methods to explore the concepts of fairness and equity in the use of consumer data for insurance transactions. And yet, this presents the insurance sector with a great platform to help drive financial inclusion. Fundamentally, the sustainability of an efficient insurance market is having a comprehensive customer view that will result in an improved insurance experience.
With data identities in place, insurers can access demographics, behaviours, preferences, financial relationships, and even the assets of individuals. All this combines to empower the insurer to develop extensive solutions designed to protect individual and household assets. The result – an improved experience across the insurance lifecycle.
Middle East in Crisis & Conflict: A Primer, Author Taufiq Rahim (Image: Supplied).
As the world grapples with the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, it has opened the door for African leadership on a global stage. The new best-selling book released this month, Middle East in Crisis & Conflict: A Primer, by leading geopolitical strategist Taufiq Rahim, serves as a critical tool for experts and leaders alike, and covers the wide-ranging geopolitical, economic, and social ramifications of this enduring conflict.
For leaders with global aspirations, understanding the dynamics of the Middle East conflict is paramount. It’s not just about the immediate consequences; it’s about comprehending how this crisis reshapes alliances, trade routes, and cooperation among nations. Africa, in particular, stands at a crossroads, as the continent’s leaders must navigate the shifting landscape of international relations.
The Middle East intersects with Africa’s economic future, especially as the Global South consolidates into a formidable bloc. While the immediate focus is on the localized violence in Gaza, there are broader consequences already unfolding. The shifting alliances due to the conflict that is already emerging, will reorient around how African countries will engage the Gulf, the Middle East and even the broader Global South.
In comparing the ripple effects of the Middle East conflict to the Russia-Ukraine war unveils subtle yet impactful consequences. While the latter disrupted grain imports and energy markets, the former exerts its influence in even sharper ways. Particular attention is paid to the rise of extremist activities across Africa. Yet it is the clear gap of leadership in the West amidst this crisis that is strengthening the growing consolidation of BRICS nations, as well as the need for investment and trade routes that connect the Middle East and Africa directly. Political solidarity is giving way to economic solidarity.
In response to these challenges, African leaders must seize the opportunities presented by the vacuum left by Western powers. By providing leadership and resources in humanitarian efforts, Africa can assert its continental power projection. Moreover, this moment offers a unique chance for African businesses to expand into regions traditionally dominated by Western brands.
Taufiq Rahim has a personal background from East Africa, which has enriched his perspective on these issues. His professional journey, spanning investment, technology, and global development, provides valuable insights into the economic impact of Middle East conflicts on Africa, and the broader implications in a shifting world order.. By drawing on his experiences, Rahim illuminates the path forward for African leaders amidst current global events.
In conclusion, the Middle East conflict’s repercussions are already reverberating across continents. Africa must rise to the occasion, leveraging its strengths to navigate these turbulent times and forge a brighter future for all.
About the Book
Since the devastating attacks by Hamas on October 7, 2023, and the subsequent bombardment by Israel of Gaza, there has been an escalating crisis in the Middle East. With an overflow of news, images, and social media, it is hard to make sense of it all. Middle East in Crisis and Conflict: A Primer distills the information, insights, and implications you need to navigate ongoing developments.
Rahim comprehensively but concisely threads together the current moment and the wider context. Drawing on a background working across many of the countries affected and in different spheres–humanitarian, political, and business–he highlights the main facts, stakeholders, and historical moments in one highly readable volume. The Primer is certain to be a leading starting point for experts and observers alike for the events of October 7 and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict overall.
About the Author
Taufiq Rahim is a Strategist, investor, and writer who focuses on the intersection of global geopolitics and transformative technology in a changing world. He first began work in the Middle East in the rural communities of Syria in 2003 and is currently building platforms within the 2040 World nexus. Taufiq Rahim’s deep ties to East Africa and his extensive professional background make him a trusted voice on issues of global significance. Through his work, he continues to advocate for meaningful solutions to complex challenges facing our world today.
Op-Ed
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) partners Nigerian Agencies To Address Nigeria’s Flood Risk Communication
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) , UK, MET Office, and various Nigerian disaster agencies marks a significant step towards addressing the pressing issue of improving the effectiveness of flood risk communication in Nigeria.
During the high-level meeting held in Abuja today, all disaster management agencies’ Directors and Director General were presented with research findings and recommendations from a 6-month intensive fieldwork project that involved engaging with the most vulnerable communities across the country.
Mr. Donovan Timothy, the Project lead from the UK Meteorological Office (Met Office), expressed optimism about the results of engaging with vulnerable communities. He stressed the importance of proactive disaster communication management strategies and urged stakeholders to work collaboratively to boost resilience and preparedness for potential disasters.
“We are confident that the partners involved in this project will effectively articulate and implement the recommendations provided. We aimed to streamline the process, tailor the recommendations to each agency’s capabilities, and ensure they can be seamlessly implemented across all communication channels outlined in the report. By making the guidelines agency-specific and easy to follow, we believe they will facilitate an efficient and successful execution of the proposed strategies.”
“It is imperative to enhance the communication strategy in Nigeria to protect the vulnerable population from the destructive effects of frequent flooding, which result in significant loss of lives, damage to properties, and mass displacement of people. Addressing the communication gaps is crucial to ensure timely and effective dissemination of information, warnings, and instructions to those at risk. By improving communication channels and strategies, we can increase preparedness, response, and resilience efforts, ultimately minimizing the impact of disasters on our communities. “He added
According to the Director General of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, Engr. Clement Nze, “Flooding is a serious threat to our nation, causing widespread devastation and loss of life. Effective flood risk communication is critical to mobilizing communities to take action and build resilience. We are grateful for FCDO’s support in helping implement key recommendations from a recent report.”
The Steering Committee consisting of representatives of all disaster management agencies, Met Office, and the communication consulting firm, McEnies Global Communication jointly identified opportunities that need to strengthen inter-agency coordination, utilize innovative communication channels, deploy targeted messaging for at-risk groups, and improve monitoring and evaluation of communication efforts.
With these recommendations, FCDO opines that The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), National Water Resources Institute (NIWR), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), National Orientation Agency (NOA), and other stakeholders will work together to implement selected recommendations from the report.
Also present at the meeting was Dr. Matthew Adepoju, the Director of the Strategic Space Application Department of The National Space Research Development Agency, (NASRDA) representing the Director General, Dr. Halilu Shaba Ahmad, emphasized the importance of incorporating diverse media platforms in the implementation processes for enhanced efficiency.
Dr. Adepoju highlighted that involving The Broadcasting Organizations of Nigeria (BON) would be beneficial in broadcasting these commendable initiatives effectively. He urged for prompt inclusion of BON in the endeavor to ensure the attainment of significant success and wider recognition. The collaborative effort with media outlets such as BON, as suggested by Dr. Adepoju, aims to maximize the impact and reach of the agency’s endeavors.
The UK FCDO remains steadfast in its dedication to assisting Nigeria in enhancing resilience against climate change and natural calamities. By prioritizing improved flood risk communication, lives can be saved through the empowerment of local communities with essential information necessary for adequate preparation and response during flood incidents.
This collaborative effort not only underscores the importance of proactive measures but also demonstrates a shared commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of all individuals affected by such disasters. It is through these strategic interventions that the UK FCDO and Nigeria can work together to mitigate the impact of environmental challenges and foster sustainable development for future generations.”
The collaboration is part of the UK government’s wider support for disaster risk reduction in Nigeria, which includes projects focused on flood modeling and forecasting, data collection networks, and disaster risk management planning. By improving inter-agency coordination and adopting best practices in risk communication, this initiative aims to build a more robust and integrated flood early warning system for Nigeria.
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