UKZN’s College of Humanities and the Advice Desk for the Abused hosted a two-day crisis intervention training workshop at the University’s Innovation Centre on Domestic and Gender Based Violence (GBV) and Abuse.

The gathering brought together students, academics, professionals and members of the public to discuss the causes of GBV as well as interventions and strategies needed to minimise the presence of such issues in society.

Senior Political Science lecturer Dr Lubna Nadvi welcomed everyone and spoke on the objectives of the workshop, encouraging members of the audience to voice what they hoped for out of the workshop.

Professor Anthony Collins, who specialises in the area of GBV, painted different scenarios to explain the contexts in which the abuse happens.

Other speakers included Ms Sharita Samuel, Dr Monique Emser and Ms Ndumiso Ngidi, while representatives from the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development and the Jess Foord Foundation gave advice on how to respond to GBV, including making use of legislation.

It was explained that by using the Protection from Harassment and Domestic Violence Act and the Sexual Offences Act, audience members are able to implement Human Rights Frameworks.

It was also pointed out that organisational bodies such as the Legal Resources Centre could be approached to assist.

Dr Suria Govender, Ms Jabulisile Langa, Ms Alishia Joseph, Ms Lucinda Johns and Ms Row-Ann Hunsley interacted with participants in fields such as training, development, advocacy, activism, and crisis intervention.

Participating councilors were given role-playing exercises to illustrate different counselling mechanisms to use when dealing with GBV cases.

At the close of the workshop, participants agreed they had been provided with practical solutions to fight the scourge of domestic and gender based violence.