#16Days16Fails - Raising Awareness of Systemic Failures Day: 2/16

#16Days16Fails is a collection of stories by women from around the country who have accessed systems designed to deal with GBV and experienced systemic failures and secondary victimization. We'll be posting a story a day for the next 16 days to shine the spotlight and raise awareness on systemic failures to adequately assist victims of violence.

STORY 2/16: MAINTENANCE COURT 

“I approached the Department of Justice (DOJ) because the court was failing my son in terms of setting up a garnishing order for the father, who was in arrears with child maintenance for two years. When I tried to escalate my problem to the deputy court manager, he randomly suggested I spend the night with him.

I complained to the Department of Justice telephonically and was told to write a formal complaint. This drained me physically and emotionally. I then met with two people from the Department where they formally interviewed me, and waited for the outcome of the case. No one got back to me, and eventually I called them to ask for the outcome, but the response was cold and vague, as if nothing had happened to me. I was told the case was concluded and filed - as if the case wasn't about me.

What was the biggest fail? That I was violated by a person in a position of authority/ trust, and then not even given the outcome of my complaint. This also had a knock on effect in receiving assistance for the initial maintenance issue I had sought assistance for. That person I complained about implied that he will leave my case after I didn’t cooperate with his request to sleep with him.” - ANONYMOUS  

#16Days16Fails is an initiative by Lenina Rassool and Felicity Guest to shine the spotlight on systemic failures in cases of violence against women and children. All the stories are real experiences by women who have interacted with systems designed to address issues of GBV and child protection.  #16daysofactivism #justice #GBV #EndViolenceAgainstWomen #EndViolenceAgainstChildren