16 Days Activism: Anti-Domestic Violence Course

by Erin Carelse · November 30, 2017

The Justice & Peace Department of the archdiocese of Cape Town will be hosting an anti-domestic violence workshop on December 9 as part of the 16 Days of Activism campaign.

The archdiocese and the Edmund Rice Justice Desk — whose purpose is to advocate, educate and equip in the area of human rights, justice and advocacy — ran their first successful courses in 2016 with about 350 women over a period of six months.

At these workshops, social workers were trained to enable them to conduct their own workshops. In 2017 they ran a course in theology for catechists to deal with marriage and family life with reference to Catholic Social Teaching.

Course Offered in Response to Requests

“There were requests from participants to deal with the issue of domestic violence specifically: what it means, the causes, interventions, and what the Church offers and says about these situations, and where people can seek help,” said Bernadette Daries, J&P project coordinator in Cape Town.

Fr Wim Lindeque of Stellenbosch, and Ms Daries then decided to offer the anti-domestic violence course to the Church.

“The workshop will be adjusted slightly so that we can include the issue of substance abuse and the child protection policy,” Ms Daries said.

Dillon Rumble, a J&P representative who runs a family support group for drug abuse, and Michael Baker, who runs the archdiocesan Child Safeguarding Policy training, will assist at the December 9 workshop.

Practical Issues Dealt With

The workshop will also deal with the Domestic Violence Act 116 of 1998, how to apply for and use a protection order, the role and responsibility of the police, as well as the skills to use and be aware of when faced with immediate domestic violence issues.

The workshop will run from 9:30 to 12:30 at the Lesley Johnson Hall at St Mary’s cathedral in Cape Town. For more information e-mail Bernadette Daries at or phone 021 462 2417.