Tools Used ·········
Facebook, WhatsApp, Google Forms

Citations ·········

SaferSpaces - Gender-based violence in South Africa: Drivers of GBV
Accessed on: March 9, 2022
SaferSpaces is a South African non-profit organization that focuses on promoting safer public spaces.

Department: Statistics of South Africa. Republic of South Africa. Crimes against women in South Africa: An analysis of the phenomenon of GBV and femicide. Last accessed March 9, 2022.

Brand Summary

The Courage Charm app was developed inspired on a personal experience, which led to the recognition of the need for a comprehensive solution to empower women and assist them in breaking free from abusive relationships. Its purpose is to offer battered women who are facing financial instability, insecurity in public spaces, and lack of safe havens with support and resources. The app aims to provide a safe and secure platform for women to access the help they need to take control of their lives. The goal of The Courage Charm is to provide women with a reliable tool to access the support and resources they need, allowing them to feel empowered and regain control of their lives.

Problem

The prevalence of femicide and gender-based violence has reached alarming levels in South Africa, impacting one in five women who face physical violence and a high risk of being murdered every three hours. Women between the ages of 25 and 40 are especially vulnerable to gender-based violence, domestic violence, and a culture of violence, causing them to feel unsafe and insecure in their city. This is compounded by three main challenges: financial instability, lack of safety in public spaces, and a lack of safe havens, which lead to women becoming dependent on their abusive partners and experiencing domestic violence that can ultimately result in femicide.

Challenges

Femicide

Compared to global average it is 5x higher in South Africa.

A women is killed every 3 hours.

897 women murdered – 7.7% increase (2021)

Gender Based Violence

National Crisis

July – September 2021 over 9,500 cases were reported

Driven by patriarchal social norms

Factors

Intimate Partner Violence

Lack of Economic Stability

Presence of a Culture of Violence

Femicide Definition

Intentional murder of women because they are women.

Although men are the primary perpetrators of femicide, there are instances where female family members may also be involved.

The majority of femicide cases are carried out by current or former partners, and typically involve a pattern of domestic abuse, sexual violence, threats, and intimidation. Women are particularly vulnerable in situations where they have fewer resources or less power than their partners.

Primary Research

I conducted online interviews with experts using Facebook and WhatsApp, and also administered a Google Form survey for women in a South African Facebook group to respond to.

South African Police Service (SAPS)

SAPS/ Detective Service
Lt. Col. Etienne Van Ede

Interview Takeaways

Disconnect between the women and SAPS
Victims loose confidence in the justice system
Lack of education of GBV in schools, work place, and churches
Men should have a mind change regarding women’s rights

South African Citizen

Talent Manager
Riana Ohlson
Cape Town, Western Cape

Interview Takeaways

Stop the culture of victim blaming
Accountability for crimes
Culture – men think they are superior
Educating men is needed to see change

SA Women Fight Back

Facebook Administrator
Lizet Coelho

Organization

Women Lead NPC (Non-Profit Company)
Run Campaigns
Provide counseling, healing, and legal advice

Interview Takeaways

Shelters are scarce
Judicial system is sluggish
Perpetrators are not accurately convicted

To view the complete survey, click on the image below. *Please do not edit or delete any responses.*

Survey

Secondary Research

Men

Between 28 and 37% of adult men report having raped a women.

The majority of men who commit rape perpetrate their first offense during their teenage years, and nearly all men who have ever raped someone do so before reaching their mid-20s.

Women

More than half of all the women murdered (56%) in 2009 were killed by an intimate male partner

Between 25% and 40% of South African women have experienced sexual and/or physical IPV (intimate partner violence) in their lifetime.

How Might We

User Persona

Tamara Rabie

Age: 35
Occupation: Stay-at-home mother
Education: Elementary Complete
Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Family Status: Married with two children

Background: Tamara grew up in a loving family but has experienced abuse from her husband over the past few years. She has tried to leave him before but has always gone back due to financial and emotional dependence. She is now determined to leave for good and start a new life with her children.

Goals:

Find a safe and secure place to stay with her children
Get a restraining order against her abusive husband
Seek counseling and support to heal from the trauma
Build financial independence to support herself and her children in the long term
Learn new skills and education to increase her employability

Pain Points: