UCT’s actions in the fight against SGBV

Dear colleagues and students

Ahead of the annual 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign, from 25 November to 10 December, the University of Cape Town (UCT) is taking various courses of action to contribute to the fight against sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). Read more about some of these initiatives.

1. Behind U Periodt! – You are not alone campaign

Through the Office for Inclusivity & Change (OIC), in collaboration with the Faculty of Health Sciences, UCT will launch the “Behind U Periodt! – You are not alone” campaign on Monday, 28 November 2022, as part of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign.

UCT will partner with two non-profit organisations, the Victoria District Hospital’s Thuthuzela Care Centre and the Sparrow Society. This partnership will highlight the valuable work that these organisations are doing.

The campaign offers an opportunity for the university to build and solidify relationships with community-based organisations that contribute to direct service provision for people affected by SGBV.

Staff and students are requested to donate personal care packs items that will be distributed to these organisations. The care pack items include toothbrushes, toothpastes, facecloths, soaps, hand creams, small sanitisers, deodorants, shampoos, medical kits (plasters, disinfectants, cotton wool), sanitary pads and underwear for both men and women.

Students and staff are also requested to take time and write messages of support to the people who will receive the care packs.

Drop off boxes for the donated items will be placed at Campus Protection Services’ Burnage House, which is adjacent to Leo Marquard Hall on Burnage Road, lower campus. The boxes will be collected from Burnage House on 10 December.

Faculties and departments may also organise drop off boxes in their offices.

Those who wish to support the campaign by giving money can donate directly to the Sparrow Society and Victoria Hospital.

• Donate to the Sparrow Society.
• Donate to the Victoria Hospital.

For further information, please contact Undere Deglon.

• Read more about the campaign.

2. Help UCT tackle intimate partner violence

The university takes a zero-tolerance approach to any form of abuse and harassment by being responsive and effective in managing reported incidences of SGBV.

Students are encouraged to take part in an important survey to help understand intimate partner violence (IPV) on campus. This project is a collaboration between the UCT Centre of Criminology and the OIC. The findings of the survey will help improve the university’s response to IPV on campus.

The survey will ask about a participant’s understanding, views and experiences of IPV as a UCT student on campus. It will also pose some questions about how a participant seeks resolution for incidents of IPV, and about their awareness of existing UCT policies aimed at addressing IPV.

This is not only a survey for women students. As many people as possible are needed to participate so that the challenge can be better understood. It is also not only a survey for people who have experienced IPV, but for all students.

If you choose to take part in the survey, all the information you share will be completely anonymous. Your responses cannot be linked back to you. You can stop participating in the survey at any time by simply closing the questionnaire. You can also skip questions you prefer not to answer.

The findings of the survey will be used by the Centre of Criminology and the university to contribute to improving UCT's response to IPV. The data that you provide will also be used by the Centre of Criminology for academic articles and student dissertation research.

This is your opportunity to have your voice heard.

For questions about the research, please email the study’s principal investigator, Associate Professor Kelley Moult from the Centre of Criminology or call 021 650 1285.

• Access the IPV survey.

Communication and Marketing Department

Read previous communications:

• From the UCT Executive
• Campus Announcements