By: Sthabiso Mdledle –“On average, one in five South African women older than 18 has experienced physical violence, but the picture of gender-based attacks varies according to marital status and wealth. Four in 10 divorced. This emerged in Statistics SA’s 2016 Demographic and Health Survey released on 15 May 2017,” reported the Daily Maverick.

The Democracy Development Program (DDP) hosted a civil society forum on violence against women and children at the Diakonia Centre on Wednesday 28 June 2017.

“On average, one in five South African women older than 18 has experienced physical violence, but the picture of gender-based attacks varies according to marital status and wealth. Four in 10 divorced. This emerged in Statistics SA’s 2016 Demographic and Health Survey released on 15 May 2017,” reported the Daily Maverick. 

According to the facilitator and social entrepreneur Nonkululeko Hlongwane, this dialogue was created to address the role of civil society within communities and how they can be able to respond efficiently and in a relevant manor to the issues of violence.

“We created a platform where people did not have to feel as if they are going to be judged for voicing out their opinions on this issue.

One of the most important topics of this conversation was how individuals address one another which is important beyond trying to find solutions for an entire community,” said Hlongwane.

Hlongwane added that the information that was shared in this dialogue will not just go away but will continue influence their similar conversations in the future.

This dialogue was organised by the DDP as an initiative to curb the growing need for similar discussions on the issues of violence in all phases.

Brian Bhengu, DDP Programs Coordinator said that civil society has a very important role to play in this issue.

“It is important for the DDP to play its role either as a convener of conversations so that whenever something comes up in communities, we are the first to respond by gathering or creating a space to have a conversation and creating opportunities for solving issues,” added Bhengu.

The dialogue was attended by a number of civil society organisations in the eThekwini region and outside, mostly who work with issues of women and child abuse.