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Study Aims

Our ground-breaking project is a strong collaboration between academics and practitioners, and deeply rooted in the South African context. By using co-creative approaches, we empower women with different disabilities to actively participate in research through the arts, creating a powerful medium for expression. Together, we are developing essential resources on prevention, safeguarding, and responses to violence.

Why Arts-Based Methods? Recent evidence highlights that arts-based methods foster deeper engagement with sensitive topics and empower survivors. Our research aims to provide a better understanding of violence against women with disabilities and explore effective prevention strategies. This work directly benefits survivors in South Africa and has the potential to inform interventions globally.

Our Commitment to Impact: Through extensive and sustained stakeholder engagement, we are building strong partnerships with local and national actors, policymakers in South Africa, and international bodies, including various United Nations agencies. Our goal is to ensure our research reaches far and wide, making a significant impact on the ground.

Study Objectives:

Through participatory and trauma-informed methodology using methods such as PhotoVOICE 2.0, body mapping, clay embodiment, and Rivers of Life, we will work closely with women with disabilities. The data co-produced with participants will significantly enhance our understanding of violence against women with disabilities and improve responses to it.

Our research objectives are:

  1. To understand the nature of violence experienced by women with disabilities in KZN.
  2. To highlight the lived experiences of violence among survivors with disabilities.
  3. To explore what contributes to the vulnerability of women with disabilities to GBV.
  4. To identify the structural challenges that survivors with disabilities encounter in reporting and accessing support for GBV.
  5. To develop training and intervention guidelines for working with and supporting survivors with disabilities.