Saturday, 9 November, 2024

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The Greater Rape Intervention Project (GRIP) opened a new care room for victims of gender-based violence and sexual abuse at the White River Police Station in May this year.

New care room at White River police station offers safe place for reporting gender-based violence

The Greater Rape Intervention Project (GRIP) opened a new care room for victims of gender-based violence and sexual abuse at the White River Police Station in May this year.

This care room is funded by the Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Response Fund and is there to support anyone needing to report gender-based violence (GBV) in a victim- and child-friendly environment.

Trained first responders at the facility offer trauma containment services to victims reporting at the police station and provide assistance while the police are taking statements. First responders are also able to assist with protection-order applications at the court, which is conveniently situated nearby. Further, they facilitate referrals to Themba Hospital, where necessary, or to the GRIP shelter for abused women and children in cases where victims cannot return home.

To access GRIP’s services at the White River Police Station, complainants should ask the police officer on duty to escort them to the GRIP care room. There is no need to queue or report GBV in the presence of other community members reporting cases at the police station.

GRIP also offers other services in the community such as educational and awareness campaigns. 

Tarryn Lokotsch, GRIP CEO, says the organisation does door-to-door campaigns and visits schools, clinics, beauty salons, taverns and SASSA offices to create awareness around issues of gender-based and sexual violence, as well as the importance of reporting GBV and seeking help.

“Often when we do door-to-door campaigns, we find women who are subjected to such violence, but do not have the means to reach out to us,” she says. “We are then able to help them. At schools we are fortunate when we can help young girls in time before they drop out of school. We support them and offer counselling where necessary.”

She says they always encourage survivors to lay charges with the police, but many prefer not to go that route. There are many reasons why women choose not to lay formal charges.

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“When the perpetrator is known to the victim, she is often dependent on him for food and a place to stay. She has to go back to him, because she has no other options. The court process can also be intimidating, and many survivors do not want to testify about what had happened to them,” she says. 

Lokotsch expressed hope that this initiative would encourage community members to report cases of gender-based violence (GBV), domestic violence, rape and the neglect of children.

For more information on GRIP and its projects, the organisation can be contacted on 083 310 1321.

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