Believe SA takes a stand against gender-based violence with think tank

Believe South Africa had its first think tank event with key stakeholders in the movement against gender-based violence (GBV) in South Africa in Bedfordview on November 23.

Collaborative and innovative social justice GBV organisation Believe SA was founded by Dr Renate Volpe, Prof Rica Viljoen and Rene Steyn.

“I decided to construct a think tank of people who look for trends and can bring their wisdom to these GBV incidents,” said Volpe.

She said the think tank is philanthropic and voluntary and is about establishing a different way of thinking.

“The think tank is a fulcrum for change and to bring masculine and feminine energy together to restore a balance,” said Volpe.

Volpe, through her connections, rounded up 18 high profile speakers for the think tank.

“The speakers were from different pillars of society, such as police, foundation education, politicians and corporates, who all brought their perspective on GBV,” said Volpe.

She said the think tank provides outputs and is a forum for continuous outputs that will impact GBV positively.

“Right away, we wanted to define which schools for girls would like to work on a female manifesto against GBV, specifically for them,” said Volpe.

She said fundamental education was also a key output in the think tank.

“Parents who tell little boys to play and girls to cook and clean breed chauvinism and patriarchy. Education and parenting needs to be different,” said Volpe.

She said sensitivity in the justice system was also an output as the system commits secondary victimisation, where rape victims get interrogated, ridiculed in public or forced to speak to their attacker to find a solution.

“They perform secondary abuse and they need to be trained to be more sensitive,” said Volpe.

Volpe said the think tank has a long-term view.

“You are not going to change hundreds of years of social structure in a once-off solution,” said Volpe.

She said documents will be available and anyone interested in collaborating with Believe SA is welcome.

The next think tank will be held in March 2020.