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Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is a critical issue in South African universities, affecting students' access to safe and quality education. Despite universities’ reputations for inclusivity, societal expectations have made them less welcoming, and GBV cases continue to rise with insufficient policy enforcement. This study was motivated by the rising cases of GBV in South African universities. Drawing on social norms’ theory, the study aimed to identify the drivers, effects, and potential mitigation strategies for addressing GBV. The goal was to build a stronger basis for improving policies and creating safer, more inclusive university environments. A qualitative approach was used to gather secondary data from various sources, including journal articles, books, government documents, and news reports. The literature revealed that GBV in South African and other universities has sparked frequent protests centred on issues of sexual, physical, and emotional violence. Moreover, it was also highlighted that many students refrained from reporting GBV incidents due to concerns about stigma and the impact on their careers, with victims often facing anxiety, depression, and physical symptoms, which further impeded their participation in university life and restricted their educational opportunities. This study concluded that GBV restricted students' access to quality education and, if unaddressed, might lead to declining university enrolment. Thus, it recommended collaboration between universities, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and families to tackle GBV and called for a review of policies to improve enforcement and provide better protection for students.  

This qualitative study examines the psychosocial barriers that prevent female students from reporting sexual victimisation at selected rural and urban universities in South Africa, as well as other Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). This study aimed to examine the psychological effects and social repercussions experienced by students, including instances of sexual abuse. This study is grounded in the Lifestyle Exposure Theory by Hindelang et al. (1978) and Fattah’s (1991) Differential Risk Model. It employed semi-structured In-Depth Interviews (IDIs) with twenty-nine (29) First Responders, specifically selected from the Gender Desk, Student Governance, Health and Wellness, residence administrators, academic staff, safety and security, legal, psychology, and social work domains. These participants were chosen to provide insights on the subject matter. The findings indicate that fear of retaliation, stigmatisation, institutional distrust, and emotional trauma together perpetuate a culture of silence. The research emphasises that these barriers intensify psychological distress and social isolation in victims, thereby contributing to underreporting. The findings underscore the insufficient response to the necessity for a multi-institutional strategy to: 1) Implement trauma-informed awareness campaigns aimed at destigmatization, 2) Enhance structural support systems to bolster accountability, and 3) Ensure comprehensive staff training to eradicate biases in case management. By prioritising the welfare of survivors and confronting the societal acceptability of sexual violence, universities can mitigate the psychosocial effects of victimisation. This paper proposes the development of policies that rectify the gaps between institutional commitments and the real experiences of students, with the goal of establishing active prevention and survivor-centered justice as standard practices on campus.

Gender-based violence (GBV) is a widespread issue that impacts individuals across diverse demographics. Gender-based violence against the LGBTQ+ student community represents a significant issue encompassing various forms of abuse, discrimination, and harassment. The inadequate inclusive support systems designed to effectively address the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals hinder the resolution of gender-based violence in educational institutions. Students from the LGBTQ+ community experience physical violence, cyberbullying, and both verbal and psychological abuse in educational environments. Individuals may experience unstable mental health, diminished academic performance, and social isolation. This study investigates the distinct challenges encountered by LGBTQ+ students in educational environments, focussing on issues related to reporting, the inaccessibility of support services, and discrimination within legal and social frameworks. The study employed a qualitative research approach to gain an in-depth understanding of the phenomenon. Subsequently, comprehensive desktop research was conducted, consulting scholarly articles to gather information on the phenomena. The study employed thematic data analysis to develop themes that enhanced the discussion. This study utilised resilience theory to examine the positive coping mechanisms employed by students confronting gender-based violence in educational environments. This study contributes to the literature by offering evidence-based recommendations for developing inclusive policies and support systems, while also identifying gaps in current research to guide future interventions.

The study aims to gain a better understanding of sexual harassment acts experienced by female passengers on the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) operated by UDART in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and to recommend factors for reducing the practice. The study specifically investigated factors that contribute to harassment, passenger coping strategies with harassment, and strategies for alleviating harassment. In-depth interviews with approximately 30 women who regularly use public transport and two UDART/BRT officials were conducted using a qualitative design. The data was collected using a phenomenology strategy, and the data was analysed using a thematic analysis strategy. The Swahili transcriptions were translated into English and analysed using MAXQDA 10 [VERBI Software, Marburg, Germany]. The nature of sexual harassment experienced by female customers includes; unwanted sexual contact, unintended touching, abusive words, and unwanted gestures. Moral decay, mental disorders in some men, a lack of strong legal enforcement, poor transportation arrangements, and a patriarchy system are all factors that expose women to sexual harassment on public transportation. Women coped with harassment by owning and operating personal vehicles, hiring motorbikes (bodaboda), avoiding service during peak hours, and deciding to accept the consequences when there was no other option. Expansion and establishment of new BRT road routes, procurement and registration of more buses, and the establishment of student buses are all strategies for combating sexual harassment in public transportation.

Rape seems to be a traumatic event, with multiple effects on potential victims’ psychological, social, as well as physical levels, which can occur simultaneously at times. The noted effects of rape incidences may differ from one victim to the other. The qualitative research approach was deployed in this study to clearly understand human behavior from an insider’s point of view. This was aided by the Q-methodology research design to explore perspectives of the selected participants who represent different stances on this subject. This also allowed explorations of community members’ perceptions on the effects of rape in selected Mankweng areas, as an objective guiding this study. The data was collected in Mankweng through the applications of Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). About Thirty (30) participants were purposively sampled. The inductive Thematic Content Analysis (TCA) was used for analysis. This study presented that some victims of rape do experience symptoms such as; feelings of worthlessness, social isolation, resorting to substance abuse and persistent sadness and crying. To serve as an intervention to victims. For recommendations, training and refresher courses should be provided in the field of Criminology and Criminal Justice and professionals from the medical field on how to deal with rape victims. Relevant stakeholders should urgently readdress understanding the associated effects of rape on society and potential victims and programmes should be hosted within these communities to alert residents about the effects of rape in the Mankweng policing area.