When the centre opened its doors, it dealt with four common cases - physical, emotional, rape and psychological abuse. SAnews recently visited the centre and spoke to Manager Nomathemba Malvern about some of the progress the facility has made since its launch. The Command Centre provides immediate psychological assistance and referral for victims and assists them in avoiding additional exposure to violence by ensuring that they are moved to places of safety and shelters.

The centre has been praised for saving the lives of hundreds of women who become victims of Gender-Based Violence. In the last year alone, Egyptian police have arrested more than 80 for allegedly being homosexual or transgender, according to non-profit group Human Rights First.The Department of Social Development’s Gender-Based Violence Command Centre is making waves.īarely six months after its launch in 2014, the Command Centre had already clinched the Best Technology Innovation Award, at a ceremony in Pretoria. Homosexuality is not specifically banned under Egyptian law, so the men were charged with “inciting debauchery and offending public morality,” which could see them jailed for three years. An Egyptian court is set to give its verdict on Nov. In September, eight men were arrested after a “gay marriage” video went viral on the Internet.

In response to the apparent digital crackdown, Egyptian homosexuals and supporters in late September began using hashtag #stopjailinggays to protest the new measures, according to The Daily Beast. The measures have led Grindr, which promises to help users find “gay, bi, curious guys for free near you,” to issue pop-up warnings in English and Arabic to Egypt-based users of the software. According to See Egypt’s CEO, Ali Miniesy, the program and training being offered by the systems engineering company will be able to “penetrate WhatsApp, Viber, Skype, or other programs if needed.”

Gay skype users 2014