Womaniko Transforming Spaces’ Post

Don't miss out! Our Associate Director, Rikky Minyuku, will join the Learning Edge Partners webinar to share insightful tips on creating a more inclusive and connected environment within your community and workplace. This is one you won't want to miss! RSVP using the following link: https://lnkd.in/gWj4SXTj #diversity #equity #inclusion #DEI #learningedge #thrivingworkplaces #transformativespaces

The Womaniko team would like to wish you a happy Freedom Day! The day reminds South Africans of the immeasurable sacrifices made by individuals and nations to break them away from the chains of unjust segregation by a selected few. April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and in this time it is important to think about the historical and systemic inequalities that render sexual assault and gender-based violence so prevalent in our society today. Our constitution upholds human rights based on a foundation of dignity and equality. Sexual assault, sexual harassment and gender-based violence disproportionality effect women, gender non-conforming groups and children in our country. As we celebrate our had won freedom, we should take time to consider those who have who still face a battle because of gender-based violence and sexual assault. As national elections near, these issues should be at the forefront of voter considerations, party and candidate manifestos, business considerations and every person who values freedom.  #FreedomDay #FreedomDay2024 #SexualAssaultAwarenessMonth #SAAM #SAAM2024 #SexualAssault #Freedom #Equality #CulturalChange #SocietalChange Thembela Njenga Rikky Minyuku Jabulile Makapela Malaika Minyuku-Gutto

Organisations need to build capacity and skills in management and employees to ensure an adequate understanding of sexual assault within the workplace. This can help guarantee protection and support for employees within the workplace when it comes to issues sexual assault, sexual harassment and gender-based violence. When management is equipped to resolve disputes, foster open communication and support employees; it generates psychological safety and increases employees engagement. When organisations train champions to advocate for against sexual assault/harassment in line with values and policies, they can also provide the hands-on support necessary to address issues as they arise. This equips employees to resolve the micro-behaviours that often lead to sexual assault/harassment. Employee training in sexual harassment prevention and sexual misconduct ensures that all employees have the knowledge required to identify sexual misconduct and know the processes put in place to resolve issues. Open communication through training and education can help organisations build communities within their workplaces that speak out against sexual assault and have zero-tolerance for misconduct. All of these factors contribute to creating safe and respectful workplaces that practice open communication; this in turn increase productivity and allows employees to thrive. #SAAM #SAAM2024 #SexualHarassment #SexualAssault #GenderBasedViolence #SexualAssaultAwarenessMonth #SexualAssaultAwarenessMonth2024 #BuildingConnectedCommunities #Safeguarding #Support #Protection #CapacityBuilding #SkillsDevelopment #Skills #Capacity #GBV #GBVH #SexualAssaultPrevention #SexualHarassmentPrevention #GBVPrevention #LetsTalkAbout #Womaniko 

Organisations need to develop systems and procedures to safeguard employees; provide resources, support, and protection for victims, witnesses and vulnerable employees. These systems must also be fair for the accused, apply proportional responses and provide support where necessary. It is essential for organisations to have a clear set of workplace procedures for reporting, addressing and preventing cases assault/harassment in the workplace. Such procedures contribute to a safe and respectful workplace culture. Organisations need to monitor their efforts and finds ways to communicate progress that balance confidentiality while demonstrating how seriously they take the issue. #SAAM #SAAM2024 #SexualHarassment #SexualAssault #GenderBasedViolence #SexualAssaultAwarenessMonth #SexualAssaultAwarenessMonth2024 #BuildingConnectedCommunities #Safeguarding #Support #Systems #SupportSystems #Monitoring #Protection #Education #WorkplaceMonitoring #GBV #GBVH #SexualAssaultPrevention #SexualHarassmentPrevention #GBVPrevention #LetsTalkAbout #Womaniko Thembela Njenga Rikky Minyuku National Sexual Violence Resource Center

Organisations need formalised policies and established workplace values that talk to the issues in their specific context. Clear policies provide an organisational infrastructure that demonstrates how safety, respect and open communication on sexual assault are valued. They outline what behaviours will not be tolerated and how victims will be supported. Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) gives organisations an opportunity to establish and update their policies and workplace values to ensure safety and protection from sexual assault with adequate victim support. When organisations foster a culture of open communication it encourages bystander action within the workplace. Bystander action ensures ramifications for sexual misconduct which creates a workplace environment that boasts a zero-tolerance policy. Organisational policies and values work as a conduit for leadership to establish a safe and positive workplace culture that protects and supports all employees. #SAAM #SAAM2024 #SexualHarassment #SexualAssault #GenderBasedViolence #SexualAssaultAwarenessMonth #SexualAssaultAwarenessMonth2024 #BuildingConnectedCommunities #Policies #CompanyValues #CompanyPolicy #RiskManagement #Values #Safety #GBV #GBVH #SexualAssaultPrevention #SexualHarassmentPrevention #GBVPrevention #LetsTalkAbout #Womaniko Thembela Njenga Rikky Minyuku National Sexual Violence Resource Center

Transformative spaces provide the opportunity for employees to have conversations on sexual assault in a safe and facilitated environment that allows for them to bring attention to issues and create innovative solutions. Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) gives organisations an opportunity to use transformative spaces as a tool to have conversations about sexual assault prevention, intervention and survivor support within the workplace. Transformative spaces provide a methodology for organisations to allow employees to help establish workplace engagement standards through identifying issues, brainstorming solutions and building a connected community with values that prohibit sexual misconduct and protect vulnerable people. Transformative spaces that address sexual assault can have many positive impacts on organisations including financial advantages, improved talent acquisition and retention, innovation, team performance and increased employee engagement and productivity. Addressing sexual assault can create organisational development that allows for a safe and secure workplace environment which allows for people to thrive.  #SAAM #SAAM2024 #SexualHarassment #SexualAssault #GenderBasedViolence #SexualAssaultAwarenessMonth #SexualAssaultAwarenessMonth2024 #BuildingConnectedCommunities #TransformativeSpaces #Development #Innovation #Support #Conversations #GBV #GBVH #SexualAssaultPrevention #SexualHarassmentPrevention #GBVPrevention #LetsTalkAbout #Womaniko Thembela Njenga Rikky Minyuku National Sexual Violence Resource Center

Sexual assault prevention is a complicated task for organisations to tackle internally. Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) gives organisations an opportunity to advocate for sexual assault prevention, intervention and survivor support as a way to improve performance, employee safety, employee experience and culture, while mitigating costs related to sexual assault internally and externally. For sexual assault prevention to be affective organisations need to take proactive measures beyond reporting mechanisms, disciplinary mechanisms and the compliance-based sexual harassment training. Transformative spaces provide the opportunity for employees to have conversations on sexual assault in a safe and facilitated environment that allows for them to bring attention to issues and create innovative solutions to the problems presented within the space. Organisations need formalised policies and established workplace values that talk to the issues in their specific context. Clear policies combined with workplace values that value safety, respect and open communication help to establish that sexual assault will not be tolerated and victims will be supported. Organisations need to develop systems and procedures to safeguard employees; provide resources, support, and protection for victims, witnesses and vulnerable employees; and to ensure perpetrators receive sufficient punishment, education and assistance. Organisations need to build capacities and skills in management and employees to ensure an adequate understanding of sexual assault within the workplace. This can help guarantee protection and support for employees within the workplace when it comes to issues sexual assault, sexual harassment and gender-based violence. When continuous measures are taken towards sexual assault prohibition, workplaces reap the benefits of employee morale, employee retention, productivity and mitigated costs associated with sexual harassment and GBV. #SAAM #SAAM2024 #SexualHarassment #SexualAssault #GenderBasedViolence #SexualAssaultAwarenessMonth #SexualAssaultAwarenessMonth2024 #BuildingConnectedCommunities #TransformativeSpaces #Policies #CompanyValues #CompanyPolicy #Safeguarding #Procedures #Support #Protection #GBV #GBVH #SexualAssaultPrevention #SexualHarassmentPrevention #GBVPrevention #LetsTalkAbout #Womaniko Thembela Njenga Rikky Minyuku National Sexual Violence Resource Center

Preventing sexual assault within the workplace is a challenge in many organisations as preventative measures and risk management are often not established or effective. Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) gives people an opportunity to advocate for sexual assault prevention, intervention and survivor support. This opportunity allows for organisations to assess sexual assault within their workplaces and what can be done to mitigate the issue. Improvements to the workplace environment is a continuous concern for most organisations as the lack of psychological safety; the toxic culture of silence; insufficient workplace systems; a lack of leadership commitment; and a lack of understanding about sexual assault, sexual harassment and gender-based violence all have negative impacts on organisational workspaces. These issues directly challenge sexual assault prevention. Leadership commitment to sexual assault prevention should be a priority for all organisations due the negative professional impacts. Organisations lack the clear and safe reporting procedures; guaranteed confidentiality; and support systems necessary to responsibly address sexual assault. Workplace performance, organisational profits, employee safety and the workplace environment are all impacted by sexual violence. Organisations understanding the challenges that prevent positive development within their workplaces can help them build the capacities to address the issues in a responsibly. In 2024 the theme for SAAM is "Building Connected Communities." This theme encourages organisations to put in the work to shift their workplace environments through communication, connection and understanding. Organisations should focus on workplace community outreach, connection and support as a way to advocate for sexual assault education; sexual assault prevention; and survivors protection and assistance. #SAAM #SAAM2024 #SexualHarassment #SexualAssault #GenderBasedViolence #SexualAssaultAwarenessMonth #SexualAssaultAwarenessMonth2024 #BuildingConnectedCommunities #PreventingSexualAssault #SexualAssaultPrevention #CultureOfSilence #WorkplaceSafety #WorkplaceCulture #PsychologicalSafety #Leadership #LeadershipCommitment #GBV #GBVH #SexualAssaultPrevention #SexualHarassmentPrevention #GBVPrevention #LetsTalkAbout #Womaniko Thembela Njenga Rikky Minyuku National Sexual Violence Resource Center

Red My Lips (RML) is an annual global awareness campaign with a mission to transform our culture of sexual violence by advocating for believing and supporting those who have been victimised, while challenging attitudes and beliefs that normalise, minimise and perpetuate these crimes. The campaign aims to reach this goal through education, inspiration, and the mobilisation of a global community to red their lips, raise their voices, and initiate positive development. The RML campaign takes place throughout Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) and gives people an opportunity to advocate for sexual assault prevention, intervention and survivor support. This campaign works hand in hand with the 2024 theme for SAAM (Building Connected Communities) as it creates space for conversations about sexual violence, harmful stigmas, prevention and survivor support. Advocating within our workplaces - and our communities - is an essential part of raising awareness about sexual assault and shifting the narrative around victims of sexual violence. Challenging toxic workplace practices, speaking out against injustices and supporting victims can result in healthy workplace environments. A safe workplace environment can improve employee retention rates, produce high-functioning teams, increase profits and improve workplace engagements. When we take these workplace practices and apply them within our daily lives we can shift the narratives within our communities and initiate positive societal development. This SAAM we encourage you speak out within your workplaces and to look into different campaigns and organisations that advocate against sexual violence and provide protection, information and support for sexual violence survivors. Red My Lips: https://www.redmylips.org/ Organisations and Causes to Look into: Girls Against Oppression NO MORE National Sexual Violence Resource Center Tears Foundation End Rape On Campus Me Too Movement It's On Us Teach Us Consent #RedMyLips #RML #AdvocatingForChange #ImprovingWorkplaces #Safety #Patience #Fierceness #Creativity #SurvivorSupport #CultureChange #SAAM #SAAM2024 #SexualHarassment #SexualAssault #GenderBasedViolence #SexualAssaultAwarenessMonth #SexualAssaultAwarenessMonth2024 #BuildingConnectedCommunities #GBV #GBVH #SexualAssaultPrevention #SexualHarassmentPrevention #GBVPrevention #LetsTalkAbout #Womaniko Rikky Minyuku Thembela Njenga