Green doors bring hope

Victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse in the inner city can seek help at the green doors, which open to safe houses. There are now 10 in Hillbrow.
TEN green doors of hope have been opened in Hillbrow, offering some succour in the fight against domestic violence and sexual abuse of women and children in the teeming urban area.

MEC Faith MazibukoMEC Faith Mazibuko: People must act aganist abuse of women and childrenFaith Mazibuko, the Gauteng MEC for community safety, opened the green doors on 8 December at the Hillbrow police station. They expand the network of safe places where victims of abuse can seek refuge. “Green doors are a symbol of growth, regeneration and life,” Mazibuko said. “They represent places of safety for anyone in trouble.

“We launched these green doors in Hillbrow because it is a high-density area with high levels of violence and abuse, as well as human trafficking,” she added.

The opening of the green doors is in line with the call made by Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane in her maiden state of the province address, for the province to establish 50 of these victim empowerment centres to bring services closer to residents.

In response, the department of community safety began expanding the network of victim empowerment centres to complement the centre for abused women and children, Ikhaya Lethemba, which is located in Braamfontein.

So far, 24 of these green doors have been launched across the province, so shortening the distances that victims have to travel to get help. With the addition of the 10 green doors in Hillbrow, it brings the total number of safe houses to 34.

Safe house
These safe houses are community-based centres complete with staff trained to help victims; they also serve as overnight containment facilities offering accommodation. The next morning, victims are referred to the necessary service providers for medical, counselling, shelter or paralegal assistance.

Safety officerSafety promoters will ensure Hillbrow is a safe placeIn line with this, the Hillbrow launch involved awarding certificates to newly trained staff and local men who act as safety promoters. Containment kits were also handed to the staff.

These kits are handbags that contain items victims of such acts need in emergencies, like a hairbrush, underwear, soap, and a toothbrush and toothpaste, among others. “The bags contain all the things a person will need when they arrive at the centre,” Mazibuko said.

While there had been successes in the opening of the green door victim empowerment centres, Mazibuko would like to see more done in the form of forging partnerships. For instance, she believed that property management companies played a vital role and that partnerships between these companies and the government would lead to the setting up of more safe houses.

“I believe we can all work together to improve the lives of victims … Don’t look away, act against abuse,” she concluded, quoting the green door launch slogan.

The Hillbrow launch was one of the provincial government’s activities for 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children. This annual campaign runs from 25 November to 10 December and aims to raise awareness about violence, specifically against women and children.