Pastoral care for Gender-based violence affected South African University students

Abstract

Gender-based violence is a widespread type of human rights violation that frequently takes place in academic environments like schools and universities. The prevalence of genderbased violence (GBV) among university students is shockingly high. Many survivors of campus sexual abuse experience academic difficulties in addition to the emotional and psychological impacts of the assault, which in some cases may necessitate them taking a leave of absence or even dropping out of school altogether. Many students entering South African HEIs would have already been exposed to or experienced violence because of South Africa's alarmingly high rate of sexual assault against children. GBV in Universities, has many causal factors, including age, societal norms, masculinity, and social media. This paper utilized secondary data as a methodology to collect data. This paper proposes that universities combine the assistance of psychologists and pastoral caregivers in the healing of those affected by GBV, because people who have experienced GBV may benefit from pastoral counselling in focusing their attention on finding purpose and meaning in their lives despite adversity.