16 DAYS OF NO VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN & CHILDREN: Untreated violence in the Platinum Mining Belt in photos
In August during Women’s month, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) launched a hard-hitting report: http://bitly.com/2aVCYKg exposing alarming levels of sexual violence, particularly rape, in the Rustenburg Local Municipality on South Africa’s platinum mining belt.
The report Untreated Violence: The Need For Patient-centred Care for Survivors of Sexual Violence in the Platinum Belt revealed that:
- One in four women surveyed, reported being raped during their life time – and yet 95% of women who survived rape never told a medical professional about the incident.
- Less than half of women surveyed knew that a treatment to prevent HIV could be taken after the rape occurred.
- Many barriers including having few professional staff trained in forensic examination and primary health care facilities offering essential medical and psychosocial services prevent rape victims from receiving the quality care they require.
Once again, rape and sexual violence in South Africa is on the national agenda as we commemorate 16 Days of No violence against women and children. (25 November – 10 December)
Following MSF’s survey, today we share with you a “photo voice” project produced by six MSF community health workers depict the daily realities and the lived experiences of the people they met through their work in the community.
The six set out cameras in hand during October 2016, to photograph and document the harsh realities of people, women in particular, as seen through their own eyes.
As part of their work the community health workers educate people about what constitutes sexual violence, and attempt to reduce the acceptability of violent behaviour and social stigma in the community. Crucially, they also explain how and where people can access healthcare services if they experience violence. They also provide information to communities about the medical consequences of sexual violence and seeking treatment.
Please find attached the captions of the photos.
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FOR INTERVIEWS AND MORE INFORMATION
Angela & Seipati
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About MSF
Doctors Without Borders/MSF is an independent international medical humanitarian organisation working to bring emergency medical care to people caught in conflict, crises and disasters in more than 65 countries around the world including South Africa. We rely on the regular generous donations from individual donors to support our work.
To support MSF’s work:
- SMS “JOIN” to 41486 to donate R15 per month
- Visit www.msf.org.za/donate
1. A young girl trapped in conditions of poverty, putting her at risk of falling victim to sexual violence, like her older sister. Photographer: Marcus Finiosse
22. She tells us: “I had to find the courage to overcome my difficult situation by doing what I love: healing the elderly with my traditional medicine.” Photographer: Tshiamo Matlhabe
32. Here there is a large open area next to the school where thieves wait for their victims. They usually strike when people walk alone or at night. This group is trying to end this by cutting the long grass that they use as hiding places before perpetrating their crimes. Photographer: Mitchelle Motswari
34. These children say they go into this unfinished building with other boys and girls when their parents are not watching: “We play ‘house’, and do what our parents do at our house: we play husband and wife, cook, sit and watch TV, go to bed with our wives, and wake up and clean our ‘house’.” Photographer: Mitchelle Motswari
36. This tap runs so slowly that the boy takes a long time to fill up his bottle with water. When even basic services are lacking or faulty, issues such as sexual violence can be overlooked. Photographer: Mitchelle Motswari
37. This abandoned house hides the memory of a 9-year-old boy who was molested by his uncle. Even though no-one lives there anymore, the community tells us that it is still being used for bad things at night. Photographer: Mitchelle Motswari
