Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini has urged South Africans to utilise her department’s Gender-Based Violence Command Centre (GBVCC) as 16 Days Activism For No Violence Against Women and Children starts.
“It is a 24-hour call centre that is available to assist survivors of gender-based violence for support and guidance by trained social workers,” said Dlamini.
“It offers a comprehensive, integrated system that provides immediate, consistent and coordinated support to survivors of GBV. Its services are linked to the South African Police Service (SAPS), the Emergency Management Services (EMS) and the Department of Health.”
The command centre uses mobile technology to estimate the location of a caller, assign the closest social worker to the case, record and receive continuous feedback on the case. It employs trained social workers who provide immediate counselling to callers.
The centre’s toll-free number is 0800428428. Alternatively, USSD (Please Call Me) *120* 7867# sms Help to 31531. The Skype address is HelpMeGBV.
President Jacob Zuma will on Saturday launch the annual 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children campaign, with the theme this year being “Count Me In: Together moving a non-violent South Africa Forward”.
The launch event takes place at the Nelson Mandela University, Missionvale Campus, in Port Elizabeth.
This year marks the 19th anniversary of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children campaign in South Africa, with the focus of the campaign being on raising awareness of the negative impact of violence on women and children, as well as on society as a whole.
– African News Agency (ANA)
