SUPPORTING RAPE SURVIVORS

SUPPORTING RAPE SURVIVORS

Jeanne Bodenstein is the advocacy coordinator of the Rape Survivors Jutice Campaign. Rape Crisis Cape Town Trust has been supporting rape survivors for the past 40 years through their counselling and support services, but theyhave identified that change is needed in how the criminal justice system deals with rape cases.

The campaign has a very specific ask, which is that the government forefil its promise to enroll their Sexual Offense course across the country. They've launched a campaign in 2016 on Womens Day and since, they have really gathered support. They have made input on the legislature relating to the designation of the court and during 16 days this year they have decided to go back to Khayelitsha to demonstrate for the demand that the Khayelitsha Magistrate Court to  be upgraded to a sexual offence court.

In the specialize course, they deal with sexual offence cases. It can be in a court room, in a court building, but they have a very important specialist personnel, specialist, prosecutes but no law relating to sexual offences and can build strong cases against perpetrators, rape and other sexual offences. In the organisation they have about 40 volunteers which works and deals in various departments.

They deal with how to overcome physical and emotional injury, to practical advice about laying charges and the criminal justice system. To help one can look at their website where you will have options to join their volunteer community  by attending a training  course but also by donating.The Justice Campaign that they'll be hosting will be happening on the 5th December in front of the Khayelitsha Magistrate Court.
T
hey have a vision of a South Africa in which women are safe in their communities and where the criminal justice system supports and empowers rape survivors and acts as a deterrent to rapists.Their mission is to promote safety in communities, to reduce the trauma experienced by rape survivors, to empower women, to promote gender equality, to strengthen the criminal justice system and to work actively to address flaws in legislation.

Contact Details:

Website: www.rapecrisis.org.za


Presenters and Producers: Khusi Veto, Michaela Muller and Tyler Layman


By: Tyler Layman