HSRC study finds increasing pattern of GBV against women aged 18 to 24
The study shows that black women in South Africa are more affected by GBV than other racial groups.
Picture: Pixabay
JOHANNESBURG - A study by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) has uncovered an increasing pattern of gender-based violence (GBV) against women aged 18 to 24, perpetrated by men with whom they are not romantically involved.
More than 31% of women in this age group reported experiencing physical violence from men who aren’t their partners while 27% of those aged 25 to 34 have raised similar concerns.
The study shows that black women in South Africa are more affected by GBV than other racial groups.
The HSRC carried out a population-based household survey, which included women from various regions of the country as part of the sample.
The study found a staggering 33% of participants, which translates to more than 7.3 million women, had experienced physical violence in their lifetime.
At the same time, 10% of the sample, amounting to more than 2 million women, reported being victims of sexual violence.
The council’s research director Dr Mpumi Zungu said the figures are truly concerning.
"This is something that should really worry us and we should be coming together to reevaluate where we are in our response to GBV."
Despite the high rate of GBV, 85% of men who participated in the survey expressed awareness of GBV laws.