Stand United SA urges men to protect women and children during festive season and beyond

The co-founder of a Fourways based non-profit organisation that provides support to victims of gender-based violence, Stand United SA, Megon Schutte said gender-based violence, child abuse and suicides took a spike in 2020 due to lockdown.

Schutte said Stand United SA will intensify its campaigns to combat the scourge of gender-based violence in different communities.

“Stand United SA was started with a vision to reach every women, man and child with much-needed resources and support from all walks of life in 2019 and officially launched in April this year. Our aims and objectives will remain the same in 2021. We will intensify our campaigns to reach more victims. It is only possible to keep moving forward through the support of the community and keep the silent trigger alert and resources available at the click of a button.

“In 2020, some families grew closer to each other while others were ripped apart and some individuals have been silenced as we noticed a spike in gender-based violence, children abuse and suicides. We were left astounded by the femicide and murders that occurred and are still occurring on a daily basis within our communities, while the community turns a blind eye as it is not spoken about or deemed as ‘not our problem’.

Schutte urged all men to take a firm position against the abuse of women and children in society.

“With the festive season and end of the year rapidly approaching, Stand United SA, would like to thank all the brave women, men and children that took a stand against the onslaught of gender-based violence in our communities. We appeal to all men to stand up against GBV and protect women and children.

“We are greatly humbled by the support from different organisations and partners who helped us through victim counselling, free legal advice and other daily basis resources. We wish everyone a safe and happy festive season and prosperous year in 2021.”