Study Reveals Alarming GBV Rates in South Africa

The 2022 South African National Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Study, published by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), unveils stark realities about violence against women and its broader societal impact.

Funded by multiple international and national bodies, the study marks a critical step in documenting and addressing gender-based violence (GBV) nationwide.

Key findings indicate that 1 in 4 women have experienced physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime, and 1 in 16 have faced such violence recently.

Among men, 1 in 5 admit to perpetrating physical and/or sexual violence during their lifetime, underlining the entrenched nature of GBV in societal norms.

The study shines a spotlight on women with disabilities, who face disproportionately higher risks of GBV. Alarmingly, nearly 60% of women with disabilities reported lifetime emotional, physical, or sexual violence, significantly higher than their non-disabled counterparts.

Economic abuse and controlling behaviours also emerge as prevalent forms of GBV. Approximately 22% of women have endured economic abuse, and 33% have experienced controlling behaviours, reflecting the intersection of economic dependence and coercive relationships.

Researchers emphasize the exacerbation of violence during the COVID-19 lockdowns, a period marked by limited access to support systems and heightened stress. Community and systemic factors, including poverty, unemployment, and societal attitudes, remain potent drivers of GBV.

The report concludes with a call to action for comprehensive interventions at individual, community, and policy levels.

These include education campaigns, strengthened legal frameworks, and integrated support systems for survivors. By documenting GBV’s scale and drivers, the study aims to catalyze a coordinated national response to this pervasive issue.

Key Findings:

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV):

1 in 4 women reported experiencing lifetime physical IPV.
1 in 13 women experienced lifetime sexual IPV.
1 in 16 women faced physical and/or sexual IPV recently.
1 in 6 men admitted to perpetrating lifetime physical IPV.

Forms of Abuse:

22.4% of women have suffered emotional abuse in their lifetime; 5.2% reported it recently.
7.9% of women have endured economic abuse in their lifetime; 2.5% faced it recently.
23.9% of women have experienced controlling behaviors from intimate partners.

Non-Partner Violence:

1 in 8 women have faced physical or sexual violence from non-partners in their lifetime.
Women with disabilities reported 40% higher rates of non-partner GBV than their non-disabled counterparts.

Violence Among Women With Disabilities:

60% of women with disabilities reported experiencing lifetime emotional, physical, or sexual violence.

COVID-19 Lockdowns:

Violence surged during the pandemic, with emotional, physical, and sexual abuses seeing significant increases.

The study proposes a comprehensive framework for interventions addressing gender-based violence (GBV) at multiple levels, as detailed below:

Individual-Level Interventions:

Mental Health Services: Strengthen mental health support, particularly for GBV survivors, children exposed to violence, and men dealing with trauma or aggression-related issues.
Integration of Services: Link sexual and reproductive health services with GBV support to improve early detection and intervention.

Interpersonal-Level Interventions:

Family Support: Enhance evidence-based family support programs focusing on intergenerational trauma and promoting safe family environments.
Child Protection: Introduce child-friendly systems to prevent abuse, detect early signs of trauma, and provide accessible services for all children.

Community-Level Interventions:

Educational Campaigns: Conduct workshops promoting gender equality and healthy relationships.
Transforming Norms: Develop culturally tailored programs to challenge harmful gender norms and stereotypes through community engagement.
Support Structures: Collaborate with community leaders to address psychological, economic, and emotional abuse.

Societal-Level Interventions:

Legal Frameworks: Improve enforcement of domestic violence laws, ensuring accessibility for vulnerable groups, including women with disabilities.
Economic Empowerment: Introduce gender-transformative policies to address economic dependence and reduce risks of abuse.
Coordination of Services: Establish robust referral systems among law enforcement, health, and social services for comprehensive survivor support.

Broader Strategies:

Intersectionality-Focused Approaches: Design interventions considering overlapping forms of discrimination (e.g., race, disability, socioeconomic status).
Cultural Relevance: Embrace community-driven healing practices, like Ubuntu Circles, to address historical and collective trauma.

These interventions align with the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, aiming to foster systemic change across South Africa.

The study was handed over to the Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Sindi Chikunga earlier on Monday:

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