The Communication Initiative
Development action with informed and engaged societies
The Communication Initiative
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at cila.comminitcila.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
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Rape Crisis – South Africa

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Rape Crisis is a South African women's non-governmental organisation that deals with rape victims by providing counselling and public education. The organisation undertakes research on the area of rape, sexual abuse and on the direct experience of survivors and of rape as a crime of sexual violence and an abuse of power.
Communication Strategies
Rape Crisis offers free and confidential support to women and men, over the age of 16, who have been raped or sexually assaulted. Counselling takes place as follows
  • over the telephone: 24 hours a day.
  • in face-to-face counselling, by appointment, during office hours, after hours and over the weekends.
  • via court preparation to women due to appear in court to testify.
  • in support groups and self-help workshops for women who have been raped.
  • via advice and counselling to friends and family members of someone who has been raped.
The organisation works with a variety of organisations and institutions with the aim of reducing sexist attitudes, raising awareness about the effects of rape, informing women about their rights and recourse, and with youth in a schools education programme.

Rape Crisis activities include:
  • running two internal training courses a year for women over the age of 18 who wish to join the organisation as volunteers in both counselling and public education.
  • running external training courses for community groups and a range of professionals who wish to learn or improve their skills in helping survivors of sexual assault.
  • running training courses for police, prosecutors and district surgeons designed to help them handle rape cases to the benefit of both the women and themselves.
Development Issues
Gender, Youth
Key Points
The organisation has a feminist understanding that women should be involved in their own healing and decision-making, with the goal of achieving and enhancing their own empowerment in a society that traditionally trains women to be powerless.
Partners

sybaweb, Estrin Technologies, Internet Solutions, People Opposed to Women Abuse (POWA)

Sources

Rape Crisis website on September 2 2004.