Webinar: Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) webinar by University of Pretoria Webinars

Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) webinar

About

Myths and stereotypical attitudes around sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) shape the way in which society perceives and responds to violence against women. Such myths lead people to blame women for rape, to make people doubt what survivors say, and to survivors feeling guilty and blaming themselves for rape.

SGBV manifests itself in physical, emotional or sexual abuse and violence. It also includes financial/economic abuse. During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, many people are forced to stay in their houses with violent partners or family members who abuse them, with no way of avoiding those who inflict harm.

The University of Pretoria is committed to addressing all forms of SGBV. This is also important in the light of the UN Sustainable Development Goal 5 – Gender Equality. This commitment includes protection against human rights violations perpetrated against any child.

Please join University of Pretoria Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Tawana Kupe as he hosts a webinar to discuss this critical topic given the increase in gender-based violence issues in the country. The fight against SGBV is everyone’s responsibility.

WEBINAR ENDED

Panelists

Ms Nthabeleng Matela

Presenter

Nthabeleng Matela, (known as MAT_ELLE, is a Drive-Time Radio Personality, MC & Opulent House DJ. A BCom Economics graduate who left her career as an analyst to pursue her passion for radio full time. More than anything, she’s a creative at heart. "Radio, for me, is not a gig. It is a privilege and a platform to serve; to ignite the lives of people every day."

Prof Tawana Kupe

Host

Prof Kupe is an active member of several Civil Society Organisations, including the AmaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism and is Chairman of the Board of Media Monitoring Africa since 2005. He has been a judge and convenor of multiple major journalism awards in South Africa. He is also the Co-Chairperson of the Kifra Prize Selections Committee and member of the Kifra Prize Board of Governors, coordinated by the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) in Rwanda from 2020. He is also a member of the International Association of Media and Communication Research (IAMCR).

He serves on numerous boards and speaks on and champions the cause of using education to transform lives and provide sustainable futures for society through equity and social justice.

Ms Sarah Matseke

Acting Transformation Manager: Department of Human Resources

Ms Matseke is responsible for the operational implementation of the UP Anti-discrimination Policy including the Prima Facie disciplinary assessment of all Sexual and Gender-based Violence and all discrimination cases within UP.

She spearheads the #SpeakOutUP campaign where staff and students are encouraged to report and speak out against all kinds of discrimination and sexual and gender-based violence. She is also a survivor of SGBV.

Mr David Kabwa

President: Student Representative Council

Mr Kabwa is serving his second term as SRC president and is an international relations honours student in the Faculty of Humanities. He is committed to educating students on SGBV and takes up their cause by leading the student structures involved in assisting students who have been victims.

Dr Linda Blokland

Acting HoD: Student Counselling: Department of Student Affairs

Dr Blokland is a clinical psychologist with more than 20 years of experience. Her fields of interest are: Cognitive Behavioural Theory and Therapy; Family Systems Theory and Therapy; Psychometry and Training. In her role, she often has to counsel students who have been victims of SGBV.

Dr Blokland has also researched and published on the phenomenon of Blessers/Blessees among young women and older men in South Africa.

Dr Priscillla Gutura

Senior Lecturer: Department of Social Work and Criminology

Dr Gutura chairs the Department’s Transformation Committee and serves on the Humanities Faculty’s Research Ethics Committee. In 2014 she became one of the first young black women to hold a PhD in Social Work at the age of 27.

From the beginning of her academic career, she has focused on social assistance, women empowerment and gender-based violence. In 2020, she received a Y2 rating from the National Research Foundation.

Mr Pierre Brouard, Deputy Director

Centre for Sexualities, AIDS and Gender

Mr Brouard works towards understanding power, exploring diversity, examining difference and imagining inclusivity. He is responsible for shaping UP’s HIV response and its engagement with communities from which staff and students are drawn and implement both service and research programmes. In addition to this, the CSAG looks at broader issues of human rights, sexual and gender identity, power relations, race and racism, active citizenship, political accountability and social justice.