TOGETHER WE ARE AND TOGETHER WE CAN.

Together we are and together we can is a non-profit organization situated in Pretoria, Mamelodi.    This organization educates the public about gender based violence, it also helps to clear the misinformation and conspiracy theories against gender based violence.As a nation we are suffering from a disease called gender based violence of which is much of a pandemic like Covid 19.Gender based violence is any form of violence aimed  against a person because of their gender, most commonly women are the one affected by this disease. Statics show that more women are being abused and violated therefore, a lot of misinformation and conspiracy theory arise concerning gender based violence.

One of three girls overall will, in her lifetime endure savagery just on the grounds that she is female. It is also very shocking how individuals will generally choose to turn a blind eye against gender based violence until they experience it or someone they know experiences it. It is additionally extremely despicable and baffling how the community or the society protects these culprits who carry out this act; and many people are just as yet clueless about gender based brutality as some of them think its only physical and this is one of the reasons why we have misinformation and conspiracy theories circling around this issue. Personally I think it starts from the manner in which we being nurtured at home and it also likewise the result of our culture. Some children are raised realizing that a man should consistently be in power and once in a while the feeling of being in power starts drifting away they then start using violence and in certain societies women are treated as objects without sentiments or feelings and are then expected to be submissive to men of which at this point gives them the feeling of prevalence over women, men then execute savagery against women.

 Patriarchal power structures overwhelm in numerous societies, in which male initiative is viewed as a norm, and when men hold lion's share of force and afterwards they begin abusing it to take care of their distorted mind. Most misinformation and conspiracy theories about gender based violence has left the victims of this issue miserable, as certain individuals believe that women permit themselves to be abused as they have a choice to leave that partner. But the truth of the matter is nobody deserves to be abused and these culprits use tactics of control and maltreatment to make it hard for women to get away from violence. It is likewise vital to comprehend that women who experience savagery executed by their intimate partner and try to leave the relationship to guarantee their own and their children's well being face an increased danger of continuous and surprisingly escalated violence. Research has shown that time a woman and children leave an oppressive relationship is at the point at which they are most likely to be hurt or killed by their partner. Women are likewise kept from leaving fierce relationships in light of disgrace and guilt, lack of security housing or shame of separation.

There's likewise a deception that a man can't rape his significant other and the truth of the matter is rape is characterized by action not by the identity of the culprit or survivor. Accordingly, forced sexual intercourse is rape, irrespective of if the survivor is hitched to the culprit. There is also some on going conspiracy theory claiming that violent individuals are intellectually sick or have psychopathic personalities, clonal examines don't uphold this view on the grounds that by far most violent men are not experiencing dysfunctional behavior or couldn't be portrayed as psychopaths. Most victimizers would appear to be decent men who are especially in control. They are addressed in in all occupations and social classes and violence generally show just in their relationship with their partner and children. Viciousness against women is also men's issue in particular. It is men's wives, mothers, sisters, daughters and companions whose lives are limited by violence and abuse. Even if there seems to be more to gender based violence as each and every story has two sides, thus it is agreed that men are also victims of gender based violence and their cases are not being highlighted or given the spotlight as women; this is only because most studies show that women are most likely to be abused, raped and murdered. Prevalence estimates of rape in South Africa range between 12% and 28% of women ever reporting being raped in their lifetime.

We can definitely do better as a nation in ensuring the safety of women and children and stopping the misinformation and conspiracy theories regarding the gender based violence. It also starts with men deciding to step in and fight against it instead of letting women fight alone because united we are the stronger we become. We should break the silence and this should not be the obligation of the victims alone. All of us need to speak up , talk about and address the brutality.

People can report abuse  via the 24-hour UP crisis line on 012 420 2310 or 0800 006 428,or call the UP careline on 0800 747 747 for support in dealing with trauma and anxiety.