Violent crimes against women have beenhogging the headlines for years and things are not getting any better. Eventhough crime doesn't discriminate gender, women are often the victims of sexualcrimes.
In recent times, gender-based violence is atopic that has received increasing attention in the country and abroad.Femicide is a form of gender-based violence where women are murdered, usuallyby men, just because they are female, according to StatsSA Crimes against Women in South Africa, 2018 report.
Just recently we've witness countless youngwomen losing their lives and making news reports. The recent assault of veteranactress and musician Abigail Kubeka is just one of those cases amongst many,some of which, go unreported.
Casey Rousseau from 1st for Women sharedsome tips on how women can better protect themselves against those who wouldwish to do them harm.
"Remember to always assess the risk of yoursituation so you can take precautionary measures ahead of time and listen tothose instinctual feelings of uncertainty or distress. It's not about living infear, but rather understanding your circumstances, trusting yourself and makingthe right choices to keep yourself and your loved ones safe," says CaseyRousseau from 1st for Women.
Here are some tips she shared.
AT HOME
- Look for potential weak points in yourhome security. All doors should be fitted with security gates, and windowsshould be secured with burglar bars.
- Ensure you have the best perimeterprotection you can afford, such as high walling and electric fencing. Securitysystems such as beams and alarm systems are recommended to provide an earlywarning of a security breach. These systems should be backed up with armed response.
IN YOUR CAR
- Use a GPS to avoid getting lost andbecoming an easy target.
- Always let a friend, work colleague orfamily member know where you are, where you are going and when you have arrivedat your destination.
- Always be aware of your surroundings andlook out for anything suspicious.
- Limit distractions, such as checking ortalking on your cellphone, when walking to or from your car.
- Avoid driving with windows open, keep thedoors locked and put valuables out of sight. Install smash-and-grab windowprotection if possible.
- If you suspect you are being followed,make a couple of false turns. If someone is still following you, drive to thenearest police station.
- Leave enough room between you and the carin front of you to avoid being boxed in.
- Slow down in such a way that the light isgreen by the time you reach a traffic light, especially late at night. This preventsyou from coming to a complete stop and reduces your risk of becoming a target.
- Always park in a safe, well-lit area.
- Many hijackings happen just as you areentering or leaving your home. Having a well-lit, shrub-free driveway and anelectric gate (that can switch to a battery during power failures) can help youget in and out safely. Use the remote to close the gate behind you, rather thanwaiting for the self-timer. This limits a criminal's window of opportunity.
OUT AND ABOUT
- Watch what you drink, be mindful of howmuch you drink and don't allow alcohol to cloud your judgement.
- Watch your drink. Be weary of drinkinganything that you have not poured yourself or watched someone pour for you.Also, never leave your drink unattended. Drink-spiking is a reality.
- Stick with your crowd. There is safety innumbers so try to stick with a group of people you know.
