A group of Cape Flats women have embarked on a national campaign called “Save Our Vaginas” to raise awareness about the state of victim empowerment rooms at police stations.
Yesterday the women from Philisa Abafazi Bethu SA gathered at the Grassy Park Civic Centre to launch the campaign at the start of 16 Days of Activism For No Violence Against Women and Children, where they shared their vision on how victims of domestic violence and sexual crimes should be assisted.
Lavender Hill activist Lucinda Evans caused a stir in October when she carried a placard which read “Los my p*** af” during an anti-crime march.
She says the campaign by Philisa Abafazi is aimed at highlighting the lack of support offered to victims at cop shops.
“The Save Our Vaginas Campaign has a 365 day focus and it’s looking at youth and gender-based violence our youth and women are experiencing,” she says.
Video: Monique Duval/Daily Voice
“We are also focusing on the lack of support services in the victim empowerment rooms at police stations and our plan is to ensure that by Women’s Day (9 August 2019), all 150 police stations in the Western Cape will have fully trained volunteers (for the rooms).”
She says they have identified various problems, but the biggest concern is the lack of trained volunteers.
“The first place of protection that women and survivors of violence go to is the police and at some police stations, there are no volunteers that can assist.
“We are stretching our hands to SAPS and offering our service.”