Foundation works for human rights
PEOPLE living in the Makuya Mutale area who wish to report cases of domestic violence or sexual abuse, can now turn to the Life Saver Foundation, a Vhembe based non-governmental organisation.
PEOPLE living in the Makuya Mutale area who wish to report cases of domestic violence or sexual abuse, can now turn to the Life Saver Foundation, a Vhembe based non-governmental organisation.
The foundation was formed in 2009 by unemployed women in the area and promotes human rights issues. They conduct campaigns that inform communities about child protection and on how women can empower themselves as well.
The foundation celebrated Human Rights Day on Friday by inviting women, men and children to join them at the God Harvest Worship Centre in Tshitavha-Tshasambandou, with the aim of informing everyone about their human rights. “We found out that men are more defensive about their wrongdoing towards their families and we want them to change this type of behaviour. “Women are still threatened by suspects who are out on bail and many cases are struck off the roll because victims are no longer willing to continue with the case,” Irish Mandiwana, Life Saver Foundation manager said. She said her organisation also conducted home visits to communities nearby to teach them about their human rights and how access such rights.
Mandiwana added that some rural women were abused due to their poverty or family backgrounds, and decided to remain silent instead of reporting the perpetrators.
Refilwe Mashaba, project officer at the Foundation for Human Rights, based in Gauteng, said as a human rights organisation they wanted people to know more about their rights to access services like water and sanitation.
Mashaba said her organisation also funded programmes focussed on accessing justice, awareness of constitutional rights and participation in democracy.
Makuya police station commander, Capt Tsumbedzo Nemungadi, attended the event and said sharing information on human rights was of vital importance.
“We appreciate our working relation with the Life Saver Foundation because some of the family disputes are resolved without the police becoming involved or having to open cases. They also assist in persuading women who initially want to remain silent, to report their case,” Nemungadi said.
