Victim Empowerment

Victim Empowerment

Amcare Victim Empowerment centre provides safety, support and dignity to abused women and childrencatering for all kinds of abuse such as physical, sexual and emotional abuse. AMCARE runs a VictimEmpowerment Centre which can care for 20 women and children any given time who have been subjected to domestic violence

130

Out based clients

66

Individuals Sheltered

38

Children sheltered

17

Ladies received skills training

Services Offered

Service offered to victims of domestic violence;
Domestic Violence is regarded as a serious and growing concern in South Africa, and has the highest incidences of domestic violence in theworld. The Domestic Violence Act, 1998 (Act116 of 1998) was brought into effect in order to afford the victims of Domestic violence protection from the abuse. It was also through the Act that the country would take a stand against the violence.

Social work services: individual counseling, education and awareness regarding their personal experiences

Our Victim Empowerment Centre is geared towards the protection of victims of Gender based violence. Specialised services for women and their children affected by domestic violence holistic service includes the following:
  • Protection and legal assistance 
  • Psycho social support and counselling
  • Victim centered approach
  • Developing knowledge of victim issues
  • Strengthening resources
  • Addressing needs of victims
  • Prevention of secondary victimization
  • Skills training and job support of victims of domestic violence
  • Assistance with placement of children in schools / crèche and schooling requirements
  • Community awareness and education

Focus Areas

Place of Safety

This is a temporary shelter that accommodates 20 women and their children who are the victims of domestic violence and abuse.Victims must be at risk to be accommodated in the place of safety. They stay for a period of 3 – 6 months and depending on an individual needs the stay may be extended up to a maximum period of 12 months.

Counselling

Women and their children who are in a place of safety receives individual counselling which are therapeutic and group counselling that includes educational and support groups. Every woman receives an individual counselling once a week and they all attend a group session together once a week. Group session for the children take place during school holidays and individual counselling take place whenever a need arises. Through counselling clients improve their communication and coping skills, they get to rebuild their self-esteem that they have lost in the mist of abuse, self-awareness,they get a greater insight of their lives and change is bound to take place.

Skills development

Skills development programme offer skills to the unemployed women who are sheltered. The skills include: basic sewing, bead work, basic catering, basic computer lessons, food gardening and assistance with job placements. Through skills development programme, women are empowered with skills that help them to improve their economic backgrounds so that they can be independent.

Assessment / Criteria

If you believe you are living in an abusive relationship, thank you for taking the first step on a journey to surviving and telling your story. However,there are often patterns to abusive behaviours. This includes controlling, bullying and / or violent behaviour. The behaviour can be from your partner, ex-partner or close family member. Answer the following short questionnaire and then contact us for further assistance.
  • Does your partner or someone whom you in an intimate close relationship to you criticise you, put you down or call you names?
  • Are you frightened or find yourself being cautious about how your partner will react if you get into an argument?
  • Are you afraid of your partner when he or she has been drinking?
  • Has your partner ever hit or physically attached you?
  • Does your partner complain or get jealous about your friendships or family members or stop you from seeing them?
  • Does your partner ask you to do things you are uncomfortable with?
  • Do you find yourself worried about what your children are seeing or hearing when a situation may arise?
  • Has your partner ever forced you to have sex with him/her or with other people? Has he/she made you participate in sexual activities that you were uncomfortable with?
  • Has your partner ever kept you short of money so you are unable to buy food and other necessary items for yourself and your children?
  • Does your partner constantly check up on you or follow you?
  • Has your partner ever threatened to take your children away or said he/she would refuse to let you take them with you, or even to see them, if you left him/her?
If you answered 'Yes' to any of the questions, give our helpline a call on: 065 811 7266 or email us: socialworkservices@amcare.org.za

WHAT IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?

In a general overview;

  • Be an on-going pattern of coercive control
  • Increase in severity over time
  • The above mentioned may be aggravated due to the financial, social and emotional linkages between the victim and the perpetrator.

Rights of a Victim


  • The right to be treated with fairness and with respect for dignity and privacy.
  • The right to offer information.
  • The right to receive information.
  • The right to protection.
  • The right to assistance.
  • The right to compensation.
  • The right to restitution.

TYPES OF ABUSE

Physical abuse

  • Shoving, slapping, punching, kicking, throttling, biting
  • Assault with object, guns, knives or any other dangerous weapons

Sexual Abuse

  • Rape, attempted rape, indecent assault
  • Ongoing verbal abuse with sexual remarks

Emotional / verbal abuse

  • Constant insults, ridicule or name calling
  • Repeated threats of violence or death to cause emotional harm

Financial abuse

  • Selling of shared property
  • Control of financial aspects in household

BEFORE YOU LEAVE

Because violence could escalate when someone tries to leave, here are some things you might consider before you leave:


  • Keep any evidence of abuse, such as pictures of injuries, texts, emails, etc.
  • Keep a journal of all violent incidences, noting dates, events and threats made, if possible. Keep your journal in a safe place.
  • Know where you can go to get help. Tell someone what is happening to you.
  • If you are injured, go to a doctor or an emergency room and report what happened to you. Ask that they document your visit.
  • If you have children, identify a safe place for them, like a room with a lock or a friend’s house where they can go for help. Reassure them that their job is to stay safe, not to protect you.
  • If you need a safe place to stay, contact your local trauma unit at a SAPS.
  • Try to set money aside or ask friends or family members to hold money for you.

FAQ

  • What is the protection order?

    A restraining order or a [protection order is an order used by Court to protect a person, business, company and general public in a situation involving domestic violence, harassment, stalking or sexual assault.

  • Who can apply for a protection order?

    Any person/ Complainant who is a victim of an act of a domestic violence may apply to Court for a protection order. The application may be heard in private and the complainant/ respondent may be allowed to bring to court not more than three persons for purpose of providing support.

  • Does a protection order expire and for how long is it valid?

    Protection order once granted never expire it is valid for life time, however it is important to note that in a Court of law it is the Magistrate’s final decision as to whether a Protection order may be set aside.

  • What must I do in case I find myself in violent situation at night?

    Find the police station near you for assistance. Police stations have a Victim Empowerment Centers within, where the victims of violence are assisted. If the police station is far use the emergency numbers. Violence also do take place during the day and anyone at risk can get assistance from VECs in SAPS.

  • What will happen to my children if I run for safety and leave them behind?

    Depending on how safe the children are behind, SAPS will be of assistance in reuniting the children with their mother.

  • Would I be able to go to work and my children to school if I get to a place of safety?

    Employed women go to work as expected. Their children are placed in local schools if necessary, they are transported to and from school on a daily basis.

  • How long will I be sheltered for and is there fee paid to be in a shelter?

    The shelter is a place of safety, the minimum stay is 3 months and no fees are charged hence every person who is at risk gets assisted even if they are unemployed.

  • Can there be rape in a marriage?

    Yes, it is called a spousal rape. It happens when the other spouse has not consented to having sex and the other spouse/partner is forcing themselves on the spouse. This kind of abuse must be reported to the police. The victim must receive counselling in the process.

  • Which important documents must I take with me when I leave the abusive relationship?

    Make sure all your documents are kept in file at all times in case of emergency you can grab that file and run. Some of the documents in that file must be your ID, children’s birth certificates and their school reports to name a few.

  • What if I do not want to open a case against the perpetrator?

    The victim of domestic violence will be empowered with information and it is up to her if she opens a case or not after receiving the information.

For more information, give our helpline a call on: 065 811 7266 or email us: socialworkservices@amcare.org.za

Success Stories

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By Drickus Maartens • 27 Sep, 2019
Domestic violence statistics in South Africa are limited and it is hard to come by exact numbers, as so many incidents are often not reported.
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