A CELLPHONE app to promote safety among men and women who find themselves victims of gender-based violence (GBV) was recently launched in uMhlanga.

Made possible by the Umhlanga Women’s Association (UWA) and Mzansi Securifire, the E-Panic App in its pilot phase, is now available for download, free for a year, to people who find themselves involved in GBV-related incidents.

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Karusha Naicker, director of the UWA, said the idea to launch firstly a campaign against gender-based violence, and then the app, came after a woman died in uMhlanga as a result of GBV.

“It came as a shock to us that a community member died from gender-based violence. We didn’t think that these incidents could occur in the higher LSM [living standard measures] areas.

The association then began looking for avenues to combat this form of violence, and we came up with the ACE campaign, which translates to: awareness, combat, educate. We then approached Mzansi Securifire and they suggested the E-Panic App as a possible solution,” said Naicker.

The E-Panic App is a state-of-the-art solution that uses GPS technology to pinpoint the user’s exact location, providing immediate assistance in the case of a GBV incident or any other situation requiring urgent assistance. The app is designed to provide an easy-to-use interface, enabling users to quickly and easily request the appropriate assistance they need.

“The campaign itself is aimed at educating women, especially younger women, to help them identify the different types of abuse. Abuse is not only physical. We also want to eradicate the stigma and the feeling of shame attached to GBV. Anybody can get help and should get help no matter who you are or where you come from,” she added.

Carrie Sanders, marketing specialist for Mzansi Securifire, said the app offered victims peace of mind by providing a reliable emergency response system, which can be activated with a single tap on their smartphone.

“We are excited to offer free use of the E-Panic App to GBV victims, which is a testament to our support for the Umhlanga Women’s Association initiative against gender-based violence,” she said.

“The app offers a reliable emergency-response system, which can be activated quickly and easily with a single tap of your smartphone. With the app, victims of GBV can be assured that our help is closer, faster and stronger for them,” she added.

The ACE campaign is underway at Gateway Theatre of Shopping until April 29, from 12:00 until 16:00, at Entrance 2, across from Essops Furniture Store near Woolworths, 1st Floor Entrance.

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