16 Days of Activism: The TEARS Foundation receives between 80 000 and 85 000 calls a year from those needing assistance
Mara Glennie, TEARS founder and director, says self-blame and shame are two of the biggest impediments to abused women seeking help.
"The first roadblock, once you've past the shock of getting over it, is to deal with your personal issues. The first thing is, don't think that you can handle it yourself, you have to get help. Whether you get the help from the police station or you to go one of the approximately 3500 facilities that help rape and abuse victims in South Africa. Get help!"
Glennie says quite often the system rapes the victim again.
"I know that sounds harsh, but the system is totally user-unfriendly. So you have to find a friendly place where you are believed and encouraged. Never, never give up," she says.
Rape Survivor TEARS by Sune du Toit on Scribd
Glennie says her motivation comes from a deeply personal space. She was also a victim of violence and tried to report it at the local police station, but was told to come back after the weekend.
"I felt helpless and desperate and did not know where to turn," Glennie says.
"The memory of that feeling has never left me. Each of the women involved in this initiative or someone close to them, has had their own experience, and understands how it feels to be powerless and hopeless."
Glennie says it is in the power of every South African to make a difference.
"Bystander intervention is absolutely essential. Whether you volunteer at a centre or contribute financially. You read all the time of organisations shutting down or on the verge of going bankrupt."
Glennie believes, in essence, 16 Days is a good campaign.
"Like all the things in our country, awareness costs time and awareness costs money. And rape and abuse doesn't get the funding it requires."
She does, however, believe the timing of the 16 Days campaign is problematic.
"My personal view is that sometimes, because it is a time of year that South Africa is slowing down for the Christman break, sometimes we have 16 Days of Activism combined with the Christmas party. This is surely not the message we need to get over."
* The TEARS Help Line: *134*7355#