Need sources for your literature review? Struggling to find sources for your assignment, research proposal or thesis?
The Library can assist with a literature search, which is a systematic and comprehensive search for published, academic material on your specific subject/topic. How do you request one? Simply go to Request a literature search .
If you are experiencing problems accessing the form, please use this link.
Current awareness is the term used to describe staying informed by keeping up to date with the latest publications, research and news in your field.
The perspective of current awareness is the present and the forthcoming, as opposed to the retrospective.
Current awareness ranges from looking for information on specific topics on a regular basis (and this usually involves the assistance of your Personal Librarian to help you set up a search profile matched to your research interests) to embracing a wider, more general, and cross-disciplinary view that brings an element of serendipity into your search for the latest information.
Informally, researchers remain alert in all contexts for useful information and insights that will inform their daily practice, their research, and spark off innovative and creative ideas for new avenues of research.
The Gender-Based Violence Command Centre (GBVCC) operates under The Department of Social Development. The Centre operates a National, 24hr/7days-a-week Call Centre facility. The facility employs social workers who are responsible for call-taking and call referrals.
The Centre operates an Emergency Line number – 0800 428 428 and is supported by a USSD, “please call me” facility: *120*7867#. Request a Social Worker by dailing this number.
An SMS Based Line 31531 for persons with disabilities (SMS ‘help’ to 31531) also exists. The Centre is able to refer calls directly to SAPS (10111) and field Social Workers who respond to victims of GBV.
A Skype Line ‘Helpme GBV’ for members of the deaf community also exists. (Add ‘Helpme GBV’ to your Skype contacts).
UN Women: Global Database on Violence against Women
A one-stop source on the measures governments are taking to build a world free from violence against women and girls
Globally, almost one in three women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence at least once in their life. This violence is often perpetrated by current or former intimate partners.
Policies, laws and budgets
These are essential tools for ending violence against women, but they are only effective when implemented and enforced in compliance with international standards and recommendations.
What are countries doing to address violence against women?
Legislation
There are 1,583 legislative measures across 193 countries to address violence against women.
GSD covers the full spectrum of gender-engaged scholarship inside and outside academia. Several thousand links to freely available and indexed full-text articles and documents on the Internet are available. Source documents include professional journals, conference papers, books, book chapters, government reports, discussion and working papers, theses & dissertations and other sources.
The following sites on Unisa Open contains useful information for Unisa staff.
The year is marked with many special days, weeks, and months dedicated and devoted to raising awareness about important issues.
This monthly post, compiled by the Information Search Librarians Team, will note special dates and themes, and draw your attention to possibly interesting cross-disciplinary topical references intended to inform and to inspire ideas for research.
International days and weeks are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. The existence of international days predates the establishment of the United Nations, but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool. We also mark other UN observances.
25 November – 10 December16 Days of Activism 2024
The 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children Campaign (16 Days Campaign) is a United Nations campaign which takes place annually from 25 November (International Day of No Violence against Women) to 10 December (International Human Rights Day).
The 16 Days Campaign forms the centre point of government’s comprehensive 365 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children.
Source: Sonke Gender Justice
3 November to 3 December Disability Rights Awareness Month 2024
South Africa celebrates National Disability Rights Awareness Month annually between 3 November and 3 December. 3 December is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, and is also celebrated as National Disability Rights Awareness Day.
2 November International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists
Safety of Journalists in Crises and Emergencies
Ending impunity for crimes against journalists is one of the most important and complex challenges of recent times. It is an essential precondition to guarantee freedom of expression and access to information for all citizens.
With the rise of conflicts and other crises, the 2024 observance seeks to promote a broader discussion on the safety of journalists working in these contexts, including the prevention, protection and prosecution concerns of journalists affected by such challenges.
3 November National Children's Day 2024
The Government of South Africa declared the first Saturday of November as the National Children’s Day
The aim of the National Children’s Day celebration is to highlight progress being made towards the realisation and promotion of rights of children.
5 November World Tsunami Awareness Day
Lessons from the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami for the Next Generation
On December 26, 2004, an earthquake in the Indian Ocean caused a devastating tsunami that tragically claimed the lives of around 230,000 people and affected 14 countries. This event marked the first major global disaster of the 21st century and remains one of the deadliest in recent history.
6 November International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict
Though humanity has always counted its war casualties in terms of dead and wounded soldiers and civilians, destroyed cities and livelihoods, the environment has often remained the unpublicized victim of war. Water wells have been polluted, crops torched, forests cut down, soils poisoned, and animals killed to gain military advantage.
9 – 15 November International Week of Science and Peace
The International Week of Science and Peace was first observed during 1986 as part of the observance of the International Year of Peace. The organization of events and activities for the week was undertaken as a non-governmental initiative; the secretariat for the International Year of Peace was informed of the preparatory activities and the final summary of events that occurred during the week. The organizers sought to encourage the broadest possible international participation in the observance.
10 November World Science Day for Peace and Development
Celebrated every 10 November, World Science Day for Peace and Development highlights the significant role of science in society and the need to engage the wider public in debates on emerging scientific issues. It also underlines the importance and relevance of science in our daily lives.
13 to 19 November International Fraud Awareness Week 2024
International Fraud Awareness Week encourages business leaders and employees to proactively take steps to minimise the impact of fraud by promoting anti-fraud awareness and education. Fraud awareness is critical at a time when organizations around the world lose an estimated 5 percent of their annual revenues to fraud.
The National Anti-Corruption Hotline for the Public Service is a government initiative. It ensures that all cases of alleged corruption are reported centrally and re-directed to the relevant departments/provincial administration for further attention.
To report acts of corruption or fraud, dial the toll-free number 0800 701 701 or SMS 39772.
Join the global effort to minimize the impact of fraud by promoting anti-fraud awareness and education
For more information: https://www.fraudweek.com/
14 November World Diabetes Day
Globally, an estimated 422 million adults were living with diabetes in 2014, compared to 108 million in 1980. The global prevalence of diabetes has nearly doubled since 1980, rising from 4.7% to 8.5% in the adult population. This reflects an increase in associated risk factors such as being overweight or obese. Over the past decade, diabetes prevalence has risen faster in low and middle-income countries than in high-income countries.
Diabetes is a major cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attack, stroke and lower limb amputation. Healthy diet, physical activity and avoiding tobacco use can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. In addition diabetes can be treated and its consequences avoided or delayed with medication, regular screening and treatment for complications.
15 November International Day for the Prevention of and Fight against All Forms of Transnational Organized Crime
The toll of organized transnational crime
Organized crime thrives worldwide, affecting governance and political processes, and weakening the advancement of the rule of law. It encompasses, inter alia, illicit trafficking of firearms, drugs, protected species, cultural property, or falsified medical products and, among its most severe manifestations, human trafficking and the smuggling of migrants. It also includes the laundering of proceeds of crime and obstruction of justice. Moreover, with all forms of organized crime shifting ever more to being dependent on or incorporating online aspects, including the use of virtual assets, its reach and capability of harm is increasing.
16 November International Day for Tolerance
"Tolerance is respect, acceptance and appreciation of the rich diversity of our world's cultures, our forms of expression and ways of being human."
In 1996, the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 51/95 proclaiming 16 November as International Day for Tolerance.
16 November World Remembrance Day for Victims of Road Accidents 2024
The World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (WDR) is commemorated on the third Sunday of November each year – to remember the many millions killed and injured on the world’s roads, together with their families, friends and many others who are also affected. It is also a Day on which we thank the emergency services and reflect on the tremendous burden and cost of this daily continuing disaster to families, communities and countries, and on ways to halt it.
17 November 2024 World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims
Road traffic injuries - leading killer of people aged 5-29 years
The Global status report on road safety, launched by WHO in December 2018, highlights that the number of annual road traffic deaths has reached 1.35 million. Road traffic injuries are now the leading killer of people aged 5-29 years. The burden is disproportionately borne by pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, in particular those living in developing countries.
The report also indicates that progress to realize Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 3.6 – which calls for a 50% reduction in the number of road traffic deaths by 2020 – remains far from sufficient.
18 to 24 November World AMR Awareness Week
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death. As a result of drug resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines become ineffective and infections become increasingly difficult or impossible to treat.
World AMR Awareness Week (WAAW) is a global campaign that is celebrated annually to improve awareness and understanding of AMR and encourage best practices among the public, One Health stakeholders and policymakers, who all play a critical role in reducing the further emergence and spread of AMR.
18 November World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence
Prevention, protection, and healing
Globally, countless young individuals are victims of sexual misconduct and exploitation. Such violations are pervasive, cutting across all nations and societal strata.
Children, especially girls, are at a greater risk of experiencing forced sex and sexual exploitation, abuse and violence, including both online and offline, and it’s also a common situation during armed conflicts.
19 November World Toilet Day
Toilets are a place for peace
This essential space, at the centre of our lives, should be safe and secure. But for billions of people, sanitation is under threat from conflict, climate change, disasters and neglect.
‘Safe toilets for all by 2030’ is one of the targets of Sustainable Development Goal 6 – but the world is seriously off track.
20 November Africa Industrialization Day
Industrialization for Development
Industrial development is of critical importance for sustained and inclusive economic growth in African countries. Industry can enhance productivity, increase the capabilities of the workforce, and generate employment, by introducing new equipment and new techniques. Industrialization, with strong linkages to domestic economies, will help African countries achieve high growth rates, diversify their economies and reduce their exposure to external shocks.
20 November World Children's Day
For every child, every right.
World Children’s Day was first established in 1954 as Universal Children's Day and is celebrated on 20 November each year to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and improving children's welfare.
Since 1990, World Children's Day also marks the anniversary of the date that the UN General Assembly adopted both the Declaration and the Convention on children's rights.
20 - 26 November National Water Week 2024
The National Water Week campaign is aimed at educating the public about their responsibility in water conservation initiatives, raising awareness around the need to protect and conserve the country’s water resources.
The Department of Water and Sanitation celebrates Water Week by urging everyone to use water sparingly to ensure Water For All.
21 November World Fisheries Day 2024
World Fisheries day is celebrated every year on 21 November throughout the world by fishing communities.
The World Fisheries Day helps in highlighting the critical importance to human lives, of water and the lives it sustains, both in and out of water. Water forms a continuum, whether contained in rivers, lakes, and ocean.
21 November World Philosophy Day
21 November World Television Day
Television continues to be the single largest source of video consumption. Though screen sizes have changed, and people create, post, stream and consume content on different platforms, the number of households with television sets around the world continues to rise. The interaction between emerging and traditional forms of broadcast creates a great opportunity to raise awareness about the important issues facing our communities and our planet.
24 November World Conjoined Twins Day
Recognizing that the case of conjoined twins is a rare condition where the estimated incidence can be 1 in 50,000 births, the General Assembly decided to proclaim 24 November as World Conjoined Twins Day.
25 November International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
UNiTE! Invest to Prevent Violence Against Women & Girls! #No Excuse
Join our 16 days of activism
The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women will mark the launch of the UNiTE campaign (Nov 25- Dec 10) — an initiative of 16 days of activism concluding on the day that commemorates the International Human Rights Day (10 December).
26 November World Sustainable Transport Day
What is sustainable transport?
Transport is vital for promoting connectivity, trade, economic growth and employment. Yet it is also implicated as a significant source of green-house gas emissions. Resolving these trade-offs is essential to achieving sustainable transport and, through that, sustainable development.
29 November International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
In 1977, the General Assembly called for the annual observance of 29 November as the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (resolution 32/40 B). On that day, in 1947, the Assembly adopted the resolution on the partition of Palestine (resolution 181 (II))
In resolution 60/37 of 1 December 2005, the Assembly requested the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the Division for Palestinian Rights, as part of the observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on 29 November, to continue to organize an annual exhibit on Palestinian rights or a cultural event in cooperation with the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the UN.
30 November Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare
This commemoration provides an opportunity to pay tribute to the victims of chemical warfare, as well as to reaffirm the commitment of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to the elimination of the threat of chemical weapons, thereby promoting the goals of peace, security, and multilateralism.
The university has identified ten (10) catalytic niches that will assist the institution in catalysing research, innovation and engaged scholarship These are as follows:
Click on the links below for information on Feminist, Womanist, Bosadi Theorizations.
(TitleCombined:(gender based violence)) AND (TitleCombined:(culture))
(TitleCombined:(gender based violence)) AND (TitleCombined:(social justice))
(TitleCombined:(gender based violence)) AND (TitleCombined:(south africa))
eBooks on (TitleCombined:(gender based violence))
Conference proceedings on (TitleCombined:(gender based violence))
Gender-based violence in South Africa: A narrative reflection
by Wonke Buqa
Source: HTS: Theological Studies, Vol 78, No. 1
The pervasiveness of gender-based violence (GBV) against women and children constitutes the most severe expression of discrimination and dehumanisation of women and children in South Africa. Even before the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic came, domestic violence was already one of the greatest human rights violations. Women for centuries suffered different forms of violation and continue to struggle in subtle forms in the 21st century. This article investigates the sociocultural theories, narrative reflections and COVID-19 pandemic challenges associated with the prevalence of GBV in South Africa. The article argues that patriarchal culture, religion, gender norms, lockdown and violence in South Africa perpetuate gender-based abuse. Therefore, the article unfolds this research through a literature review and narrative approach which is used to allow the co-researchers to share their stories. The article embarks on sociocultural experiences, the scourge of GBV in South Africa, the impact of COVID-19 pandemic, qualitative interviews and theological reflections and concludes by suggesting future possibilities to fight GBV.
This article contributes to an understanding that abafazi nabantwana baphefumla ngenxeba [women and children are breathing through the wound] amid the global COVID-19 pandemic. It discusses the prevalence of GBV, the intersection of religious cultural effects, social sciences, gender inequality and the continued oppression of women and children.
Gender-based Violence in Rural South Africa: Introducing the AmaZizi Chiefdom of Eastern Cape
by Nanette de Jong, Alungile Jongimpahla Twayise, Anelisiwe Jijingubo, Phinda Tshefu and Aqualine Suliali
Source: Gender QuestionsVol. 11, No. 2
This research surveys the prevalence of gender-based violence (GBV) and its relationship to gendered roles and gendered expectations in the rural AmaZizi chiefdom in Eastern Cape, South Africa. The authors used community-based participatory research, mixing quantitative and qualitative approaches. Quantitative data were gathered via questionnaires distributed to 300 households in collaboration with a local research team, trained on the specifics of this project and study procedures. Data were supplemented with information collected from five focus groups and 40 additional one-on-one interviews. Based on this research, the authors uncovered a traditional patriarchal system in the chiefdom that not only gives men control over the lives and sexuality of women in the region, but is also used to justify the violence. This shows that future efforts to combat GBV in the chiefdom should address the authoritarian definition of masculinity that currently frames the gender roles and expectations in the region.
Gender relations and social justice in Africa: Toward a duty-based approach to gender-based violence
by Abiodun Paul Afolabi* and & Edwin Etieyibo
Source: South African Journal of Philosophy Vol. 42, No. 3
Abstract
A large and important part of social relations is gender relations between men and women. Over time, the manifestation of such relations has often been one of violence, particularly violence against women. Different approaches have been deployed to deal with the experience of gender-based violence (GBV). One popular approach is the human rights framework that suggest that GBV can be addressed by granting certain rights to women. We argue that while a human rights framework holds some promise in resolving GBV, it is limited in some ways because it does not take the cultural perceptions of gender relations that envision gender duties into account. As part of our argument, we show that social relations in African communities ought to be primarily based on the principle of duty to the other, rather than an emphasis on rights. We conclude that there is a need to complement the rights-based approach with a duty-based approach to effectively address GBV.
If you are looking for forthcoming conferences, the following websites are helpful: