Women’s Day has come and gone with the usual comments

Women’s Day has come and gone and, like the 16 Days of Activism in December, it has attracted the usual comments about the failure of the police to protect women and children and the platitudes by so-called “community activists” that “enough is enough” and “something must be done”.

But what, I ask myself, can be done?

The police cannot post a guard outside every house to prevent domestic violence.

The police cannot post guards outside every club, pub, and shebeen to prevent unaccompanied women from entering the premises and getting drunk, nor can the police prevent these women from leaving in the company of dubious men.

The individual has to be aware of the possible risks attached to such behavior and accept responsibility for himself / herself.

I have been a court reporter for the best part of five years, and in that time, I have learned a lot about the law and human nature.

The number of assault cases that are brought to court is alarming.

Gender-based violence is not limited to men attacking women but also encompasses women assaulting other women (usually in disputes over a shared boyfriend), men and women assaulting their parents or grandparents (usually in arguments over money), and parents abusing their children or stepchildren (often while under the influence of drugs or alcohol).

What is more alarming is that within 24 hours, after everyone has had a chance to calm down and sober up, the majority of these cases are then withdrawn, having wasted a vast amount of police and court officials’ time and energy.

Is it any wonder that the police get fed up with answering calls to settle domestic disputes, particularly when called to the same residence on several occasions?

There have been repeated calls for special GBV courts to be established. Why?

Do the members of the public imagine that the magistrates and prosecutors are not competent to deal with these matters?

Matters requiring testimony by juveniles are heard in camera anyway and in my opinion, all rape and sexual assault cases should enjoy the same element of privacy.

To have to listen to a person recounting the most intimate details of a sordid attack is both depressing and embarrassing and is not the business of the general public.

My solution to the violence that surrounds us is this: young people, and young girls, in particular, should educate themselves to the best of their abilities to ensure that they are not dependent on others for their financial well-being, nor should young people be seduced by the promises of gifts and “rewards” for certain types of behaviour.

Promiscuity and substance abuse are major factors in GBV and women need to take a long, hard look at their attire, their attitudes, and their behaviour. If they want respect from their fellow men and women, they must earn it.

Always laying the blame for GBV at the door of the male population is extremely short-sighted.