GBV interventions at universities show promise

AS THE country continues to observe 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against women and children, a South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) study shows promising interventions in addressing sexual violence and mental health challenges among students in the post-school education and training sector.

- NICOLA DANIELS

The interventions result from eight years of rigorous building, innovating and testing by the Gender and Health Research Unit in partnership with the Mental Health, Alcohol, Substance Use, and Tobacco Research Unit of the SAMRC.

The SAMRC yesterday held a briefing showcasing these interventions.

Among the initiatives is “Ntombi Vimbela!” (NV!), designed for first-year female students, a group identified as being at particularly high risk of sexual violence.