Combating GBV scourge in rural communities

A ground-breaking programme is addressing gender-based violence in South Africa's rural communities and empowering young men to fight harmful stereotypes

-  Bruce J Little.

Gender-based violence (GBV) casts a long shadow over society. It is a human rights violation with farreaching consequences, transcending gender lines and socioeconomic boundaries. It is also a global epidemic that is particularly rampant in South Africa, where rural areas bear a disproportionate burden.

While typically associated with interpersonal relationships, the reach of GBV extends far beyond homes and workplaces, penetrating deeply into industries like agriculture. Its economic toll is staggering, with losses in productivity and GDP equivalent to significant national expenditures.

In a 2014 report titled 'Too costly to ignore - the economic impact of gender-based violence in South Africa', professional services firm KPMG delved into how GBV affects South Africa in other economic and developmental ways.

"Based on prevalence rates of between 20% and 30% of women experiencing gender-based violence within a given year, this study estimates that the economic impact of that violence is between at least R28,4 billion and R42,4 billion for the year 2012/13, representing 0,9% and 1,3% of GDP, respectively," the report says.

SYSTEMIC INEQUALITIES

It is no coincidence that there is a correlation between GBV and agriculture; it stems from systemic inequalities, posing grave threats to productivity, sustainability and overall well-being within the sector. Women farmers and farmworkers in Africa face a multitude of challenges, with violence being among the most severe. Beyond the immediate physical and mental toll that GBV takes on these women, it also hampers their ability to work and provide for their families, perpetuating cycles of poverty and suffering.

EFFECTS ON PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH