Gender-based violence command centre up for international award

The department’s Gender-Based Violence Command Centre (GBVCC) is up for the Global Best Contact Centre Award.

The GBVCC was launched by Minister Bathabile Dlamini in March 2014, has already been recognised locally and on the continent for its innovative approach and excellence in fighting gender-based violence.

According to the department: “It has won two highly acclaimed service awards in the Innovation Award in the Contact Centre Management Group (CCMG) awards, and the Changing Lives Award in the Africom Awards. The GBVCC also participated and competed with Africa, Asia and Europe in the Technological Innovation Awards in London and won the golden award.”

A team from the Department was now on its way to Las Vegas in the United States for the Global Best Contact Centre Awards and was hoping to come back with the top prize.

Since inception, the GBVCC has taken more than 24,046 calls and received more than 22,683 “please call me” messages from members of the public who needed help.

According to the department, the centre had attended to a variety emergency situations including cases of indecent assault, physical violence, rape, abandoned children and verbal abuse. It had also attended to cases of stalking, emotional abuse, sexual harassment, forced marriages, forced prostitution, elderly citizen abuse, bullying, as well as family disputes.

“The success of the GBVCC can be attributed to the fact that it is a comprehensive, integrated system that provides immediate, consistent, coordinated and timely support to victims of gender-based violence,” the department said.

It uses mobile technology to estimate the location of a victim, assign the closest social worker in the field to the case, and record and receive continuous feedback on the case.

The centre is staffed by trained social workers/command centre agents who are able to provide immediate counselling to victims and help them to avoid or minimise further exposure to gender-based violence.

“When a caller contacts the GBVCC from a mobile phone, they are (with explicit permission) geographically located, enabling the Centre to determine the resources nearest to the caller, whether it be a social worker, a police station, a hospital or safe house. In this way, help is dispatched in quick fashion.”

The GBVCC emanated from the work of the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on the Root Causes of Violence Against Women and Children, chaired by Dlamini. The IMC was established by President Jacob Zuma in May 2012 to reinforce political leadership and accountability in the national prevention and response to the rising figures of sexual violence in South Africa.

The membership of the IMC comprises the Ministers of Justice and Constitutional Development, Women, Children and People with Disabilities, Home Affairs, Police and Basic Education.

The Global Best Contact Centre Awards take place between 2-5 November, with the recipient of Best Contact Centre in the World Award expected to be announced on November 5.

The GBVCC toll free number to call to speak to a social worker for assistance and counselling is 0800 428 428 (0800 GBV GBV). Callers could also request a social worker from the Command Centre to contact them by dialling *120*7867# (free) from any cellphone.  - ANA

(File photo: Getty Images)