Ilitha Labantu

FOCUS AREA: GBVF

PROVINCE: Western Cape

TELEPHONE: 021 633 2383

SOCIAL WORK SUPPORT LINE: 072 076 6118 / 072 063 4407

PARALEGAL SUPPORT LINE: 060 954 9558

FAX: 021 633 9524

EMAIL: admin@ilithalabantu.org

WEBSITE: http://www.ilithalabantu.org

DESCRIPTION:

litha Labantu, established in 1989, is a social service and educational organisation that focuses on addressing violence against women and children and supporting those affected by it.

Through individual and family counselling as well as skills training, empowerment and capacity-building workshops, we meet the needs of communities affected by high levels of violence and limited socio-economic opportunities. Located within the residential areas of its target group, we provide easily accessible services to gender-based violence (GBV) survivors and the broader community.

As an experienced civil society organisation, we are a trusted advisor to government and community processes related to the prevention and elimination of violence against women and children we use this platform to advocate for the implementation of grassroots solutions nationally and internationally.

Currently, we have satellite offices in five provinces in township and rural areas and are committed to increasing the scope of our work throughout the country.

OUR MISSION

Is to end violence and abuse against women and children in disadvantaged communities. We provide emotional support, practical advice, education and training for coping with and addressing violence against women and children. We utilise interactive inclusive methodologies in our education and empowerment programs.

OUR VISION

Is to assist in the elimination of all kinds of domestic abuse especially those that occur in the domestic domain where the ideology of privacy is strong.

OUR SOLUTION

We work to prevent and eliminate of all forms of violence against women and girls by assisting and empowering survivors, sanctioning perpetrators, seeking justice for victims and working with communities so that they can take the responsibility to recognise and denounce violence. Ilitha Labantu’s work is guided by the national comprehensive policy and normative framework which focuses on the elimination of gender based violence in line with international standards. Our key pillar is therefore violence prevention with  a focus on tackling the root causes of violence such as intergenerational poverty and negative gender norms and stereotypes.

OUR SERVICES

• Clinical Programme – Walk-in service centre for survivors
• Policy and Advocacy – Para-legal services, court support, and lobbying
• Outreach and Education – School visitations, public awareness, community workshops

OUR COMMUNITIES

We operate largely in marginalised and underdeveloped peri-urban residential areas or townships which are characterised by high unemployment, low income, low literacy and education levels, low cost housing or informal structures (shacks), crime and poverty. In such communities, violence, particularly domestic violence sexual abuse and germicide is compounded by the socio-economic realities that provide little space for families to thrive. Ilitha Labathu operates out of Gugulethu township which makes it easier for beneficiaries to access services as there are transportation costs, services are offered in local languages, and there is a lived and shared community experience.

OUR GLOBAL PRESENCE

Ilitha Labantu forms part of the Civil Society National Delegation of the annual United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) conference – a commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), dedicated exclusively to evaluate progress on gender equality, identify challenges, set global standards and formulate concrete policies to promote gender equality and the advancement of women worldwide. In the lead-up to CSW, Ilitha Labantu organises community dialogues and consultative forums where women activists at grassroots and national level discuss issues, challenges and recommend solutions. The report from these consultations are presented at CSW during high-level meetings and side events involving senior government officials, international civil society organisations and development institutions.

Working with Statistics South Africa, we are also active in tracking and reporting on key indicators related to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 (Gender Equality) including the economic, social, legal and customary barriers holding back women and girls that need to be addressed in order for South Africa to meet this goal by 2030. Additionally we work with government and international organisations to ensure that civil society plays a prominent role in SDG implementation.

FACEBOOK: ilithalabantu

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/IlithaLabantu

INSTAGRAM: @IlithaLabantu