Abstract
Abstract:
Religious,2 traditional and community leaders (RTCL) have an important role to play in the social protection of women who disclose abuse. If abused women disclose abuse to RTCL, their actions on the one hand, could either prevent further abuse and femicide; as well as protect children exposed to domestic violence. Or on the other hand, if they do not respond appropriately at critical moments of disclosure, they allow abuse to continue by not assisting survivors. This article aims to assist RTCLs, and other potential systems of support, utilize the legislation to assist survivors of domestic violence.
The landmark Domestic Violence Act (116 of 1998) is the result of extensive advocacy and lobbying by women’s groups to locate gender based violence firmly in the public domain. It provides one very important avenue that can be utilized by RTCLs to help abused women access their human rights, by employing the law. This article provides an outline of process and the details of the legal remedy available to survivors of abuse provided by the DVA. It is however important to remember, that whilst it is imperative for RTCLs to understand how to assist survivors utilizing the DVA to obtain protection this must be accompanied by a package of other services, since it is not effective as a standalone instrument.