Stop sexual violence against South African women

Everyday in South Africa, rural women are fighting to survive sexual violence. South African’s constitution asserts that all citizens have the right to be free of abuse, but this right is perpetually violated!

To combat the problem of sexual violence, REACH is taking an educational approach by developing and implementing sensitization campaigns that will help change social patterns and raise awareness of women's rights issues, gender equality, and violence against women. Reach is also providing training and education programs to ensure that not only women, but men too are being empowered to become proactive in the struggle to end all sexual violence.

REACH recently initiated a South African Rural Women’s Day Campaign in partnership with the Rape Crisis Center and the Center for Rural Legal Studies. It was a day to honor rural women farmers who are often neglected from celebrations of women's days.  However, the real goal was to explore problematic issues faced by rural women of today.  Topics such as sexual harassment, and sexual violence, drug and alcohol abuse, teenage pregnancies, HIV/AIDS were all discussed to bring awareness of how critical the issue of sexual violence truly is.  The campaign was also a means of exploring how well rural communities are dealing with these issues and to what extent are preventive measures being taken.  100 men and women showed their support by attending this event and participating in deliberations.

Though, REACH has successfully begun to change attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors related to violence against women, they still need your support.  Donate today and help REACH protect women from exploitation and abuse!

REACH has impacted  hundreds of people in the Western Cape of South Africa with its outreach campaigns, political activism, and local workshops. It's success is not only in making women aware of their rights, but including men, boys, and policy makers in outreach efforts.

REACH's official statement on it's objectives, reads:

"Sexual harassment and sexual violence are complex social problems which cannot be dealt with single, simple strategies. REACH believes that the key to effectively and efficiently address these issues is to broach it within a holistic framework.  REACH has 6 main project activities:
• To provide training and awareness raising on sexual harassment and sexual violence (and their interlinking factors),
• To establish & provide counselling support services,
• To establish & provide legal support services,
• To research contributing factors to sexual harassment and sexual violence,
• To develop sexual harassment and sexual violence campaigns,
• To promote changes of restrictive policies and advocate for a law on sexual harassment"

REACH not only supports women who have experienced violence, but understands that violence against women affects everyone.

This important grassroots organization is making huge strides in changing the social acceptance of violence in rural South African communities. Thank you for your support- your generosity goes a long way!