This report is based on information collected in South Africa by Bronwen Manby and Lisa A. Crooms during a four-week visit in November 1996 and on subsequent telephone interviews. Interviews were conducted in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and Western Cape provinces, predominantly in urban areas. It follows a 1995 report, Violence Against Women in South Africa, which contains recommendations concerning the state's response to violence against women more generally. This report was written by Bronwen Manby, reviewed by Lisa A. Crooms, and edited by Dorothy Q. Thomas and Peter Takirambudde. Production assistance was provided by Kerry McArthur.
Human Rights Watch would like to thank all the individuals and organizations who assisted in the preparation of the report, including Mmatshilo Motsei and Agisanang Domestic Abuse Prevention and Training (ADAPT); People Opposing Women Abuse (POWA); the Advice Desk for Abused Women; Rape Crisis, Cape Town; Ilitha La Bantu; Dr. Lorna Martin; Dr. Katrin Müller; Joanne Fedler; Marietjie Fourie of the Gauteng Department of Safety and Security; and Gustaaf Wolvaardt of the Medical Association of South Africa. We would also like to thank NOVIB, Herbert and Marion Sandler, the Ford Foundation, the MacArthur Foundation, the Moriah Fund, the Sahler Adams Foundation, and the Sister Fund for their support of our work.
Human Rights Watch Women's Rights Project
Human Rights Watch is dedicated to protecting the human rights of people around the world.
We stand with victims and activists to bring offenders to justice, to prevent discrimination, to uphold political freedom and to protect people from inhumane conduct in wartime.
We investigate and expose human rights violations and hold abusers accountable.
We challenge governments and those holding power to end abusive practices and respect international human rights law.
We enlist the public and the international community to support the cause of human rights for all.
The staff includes Kenneth Roth, executive director; Michele Alexander, development director; Cynthia Brown, program director; Barbara Guglielmo, finance and administration director; Robert Kimzey, publications director; Jeri Laber, special advisor; Lotte Leicht, Brussels office director; Susan Osnos, communications director; Jemera Rone, counsel; Wilder Tayler, general counsel; and Joanna Weschler, United Nations representative. Robert L. Bernstein is the chair of the board and Adrian W. DeWind is vice chair.
Its Women's Rights Project was established in 1990 to monitor violence against women and gender discrimination throughout the world. Dorothy Q. Thomas is the director; Regan E. Ralph is the Washington director; Samya Burney and LaShawn R. Jefferson are research associates; Robin Levi is the staff attorney; Sinsi Hernandez-Cancio is the Sophie Silberberg Fellow; Jane Kim is the Women's Law and Public Policy Fellow; and Evelyn Miah and Kerry McArthur are the associates. Kathleen Peratis is chair of the advisory committee and Nahid Toubia is the vice chair.
Human Rights Watch/Africa
Human Rights Watch/Africa was established in 1988 to monitor and promote the observance of internationally recognized human rights in sub-Saharan Africa. Peter Takirambudde is the executive director; Janet Fleischman is the Washington director; Suliman Ali Baldo is the senior researcher; Alex Vines is the research associate; Bronwen Manby and Binaifer Nowrojee are counsels; Ariana Pearlroth and Juliet Wilson are associates; and Alison DesForges is a consultant. William Carmichael is the chair of the advisory committee and Alice Brown is the vice chair.
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