Pretoria - Government’s Gender-Based Violence Command Centre was on Wednesday awarded the Changing Lives Award at the 2014 AfricaCom Awards for providing telephonic support and counselling to victims of gender-based violence.
The Department of Social Development launched the centre in March this year. It allows social worker agents to provide telephonic support and counselling to victims and can direct the victim’s case to a social worker close to them.
The department said the awards were presented under categories which celebrated the breakthroughs and most influential players shaping the telecoms/ICT sector.
The 2014 AfricaCom Awards focused the categories on innovation and relevance to market needs.
The Gender Based Violence Command Centre operates through the toll free number: 0800 428 428 (0800 GBV GBV). Callers can also request a social worker from the command centre to contact them by dialling *120*7867# (free) from any cell phone.
In August, the centre was awarded the Best Technology Innovation award by the Contact Centre Management Group (CCMG), in recognition of it being the first integrated technology of its kind in terms of social service delivery in South Africa and arguably in the developing world.
“The eradication of the widespread and under-reported gender-based violence in our country is a high humanitarian and social priority and requires a concerted effort from everyone.
“Research indicates that victims of gender-based violence might not have adequate access to and might not be effectively supported by social services,” the department said.
The centre empowers victims - a staggering 71 percent of the women of this country - with the necessary psychosocial support to rebuild their lives.
The centre is also premised on the belief that this service model offers help, hope and the chance of a better life to victims of gender-based abuse, even in the remotest and most underdeveloped areas of South Africa.
“The Gender Based Violence Command Centre was recognised for effectively addressing these issues,” the department said.-SAnews.gov.za
