The effectiveness of perpetrator programmes in promoting positive gender relations and preventing domestic violence: A case study of NICRO’S PIPV programme

Abstract

Domestic violence is an enduring social problem in South Africa and call for a competent response to reduce the high rates of its occurrence (Kruger, 2006). The South African government developed a legal reform to deal with the implementation of Domestic Violence Act 116 of 1998. However this legal reform alone is insufficient to reduce domestic violence as its still prevalent up to date. Other strategies and programmes have been developed by other relevant stakeholders such as NICRO in the fight against domestic violence. NICRO developed a feminist orientated Perpetrator of Intimate Partner Violence programme. There has been much contention with regard to working with perpetrators thus this study sought to contribute to the debate by examining the effectiveness of the NICRO PIPV programme.The goal of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the PIPV programme in promoting positive gender relations and preventing domestic violence . A sample of 8 respondents was used for the qualitative study. The results from the study indicated that positive gender relations are a key to reducing domestic violence as all participants stopped physical domestic violence perpetration. It was also apparent from the study that successful perpetrator programmes have to be coupled with legal reforms, such as the Domestic Violence 116 of 1998 to ensure compliance and effectiveness.

Keywords: domestic violence, perpetrator pprogrammes, gender relations