Recognise safe houses, says official

By LULU MAGINDE
THERE is no Government legislation that recognises creating safe spaces for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence (GBV), a family and sexual violence action committee (FSVAC) official claims.
“For instance, there might be a policy or law that allows for the creation and need of a police station or court house, but safe houses at the moment are operating without the recognition of the Government,” FSVAC national coordinator Marcia Kalinoe said.
She noted that there was a serious need for safe houses to have legislation that recognised their need because most people who ran safe houses were women who had been victims.
“There is a framework from the Department of Community Development and Religion which talks about ‘out of home care’ but that doesn’t encompass the specific services of providing a shelter for GBV victims, which safe houses cater for,” she added.
Working with the Consultative Implementation and Monitoring Council, Kalinoe observe that safe houses operate because communities allow them to operate, committing to supporting it because they see the need for it and agree that it is a safe space that must be supported.
“So far, safe houses have only been established on a community-based approach level but there are no actual laws in place that legislate for safe houses,” she said.
“In the city, we rely on the police and the security provided in a compound or secure area.
“But if you think of all the safe houses in the most remote places, all those are community-based efforts and must be recognised.”
More recognition and awareness are needed from community leaders in order for safe houses to thrive in the country because there are only 27, with only a handful focused in the Highlands.
“We can never have too many safe houses,” Kalinoe said. “The places that I’ve been to, I have been amazed by the level of commitment and efforts that the women put into helping survivors.”