In continued commitment to building safer, shared and confident communities, Safer South Africa Foundation has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (“MoU”) with Tears Foundation and the South African Human Rights Commission in order to foster collaboration in community and school education programmes around safety, human rights and gender-based violence issues.
TEARS Foundation provides access to crisis intervention, advocacy, counselling, and prevention education services for those impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault and child sexual abuse. The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) is the national institution established to support constitutional democracy. It is committed to promote respect for, observance of and protection of human rights for everyone without fear or favour.
Specifically, the MoU, seeks to:
- Organise engagement opportunities on critical and relevant issues on the social justice and the promotion of community safety in South Africa.
- Be a platform for knowledge sharing and advocacy by connect law enforcement agents to communities.
- Promote research work, and dissemination thereof, on community safety, human rights and gender-based violence issues.
- Finding innovative ways, including games for young people, to empower communities through training and awareness initiatives.
Safer South Africa Foundation’s CEO, Gen Riah Phiyega, says as part of the MOU, all parties have committed to foster the achievement of impactful community dialogues; ensuring that engaged communities feel safe and empowered. Mara Glennie, Tears Foundation: CEO, indicated that it is key to use technology innovatively in the fight against domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse.
The SAHRC Commissioner responsible for Child Rights, Angie Makwetla, says the Commission has child-friendly, accessible, informal, spaces in all provinces where children are encouraged to feel safe, secure and protected and that it is empowering to have dialogues with local communities. The MoU aims to undertake community safety challenges and educate the public about South Africa’s criminal justice; encourage and promote dialogue to inform community based solutions.