On Wednesday 18 August, the Heinrich Böll Foundation hosted its first virtual discussion to launch the first of a series of research briefs associated to its “Care and Support in a Time of Epidemic” research project. The project is dedicated to better understanding how COVID-19, and the subsequent implementation of lockdown in South Africa on 27 March 2020 has impacted on domestic violence in the country.
Webinar proceedings included a presentation by lead researcher Lisa Vetten on the available evidence for violence during the lockdown using data from three points of service, the national Gender-Based Violence Command Centre, health facilities and police. She was joined by Bernadine Bachar, Director of the Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children and Executive Member of the National Shelter Movement of South Africa, and Canny Maphanga, News24 journalist, to discuss their personal experiences of responding to, and reporting on domestic violence during the pandemic. The session was moderated by Kailash Bhana and the welcome address delivered by HBF Human Rights Programme Manager, Claudia Lopes.