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Coping with Gender-Based Violence in the Workplace and the Role of Non-Governmental Organizations: A Perspective of Refugee Women Living in Durban, South Africa
Yvonne Kabongo
Published: 2023/03/01
Abstract
Gender-based violence (GBV) is a global problem that affects women and girls of all races, colors, and creeds. This study locates gender-based violence within the working environment in South Africa, explores victims’ coping mechanisms and points out the role played by non-governmental organizations in assisting and protecting refugee women against gender-based violence in the workplace. This is a qualitative study using an interpretative approach. Face to face interviews were conducted with 7 selected volunteer refugee women living in Durban. The findings from the study show that women refugees developed a number of coping mechanisms such as counselling, friends and family’s members, but these remain ineffective as a result of their vulnerable socio-economic situation. The results show that non-governmental organizations play an important role in assisting and protecting refugee women against gender-based violence in the workplace. This assistance is effective, but is limited to some extent, due to limited financial means and lack of South African government support. The South African government needs to ensure that NGOs that adequately deal with GBV against refugees can receive support on top of their limited means in assisting refugees. Keywords: Gender-based violence, Refugee women, Workplace, Coping mechanisms, Non-governmental organizations.
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