Lawyers against Abuse (LvA) is a non-profit organisation providing free, professional legal services and psycho-social support to victims of gender-based violence in Diepsloot, South Africa. LvA has helped provide hope, healing and justice to hundreds of gender-based violence (GBV) victims to date. Diepsloot is an informal settlement north of Johannesburg with an estimated population of over 500,000 people. Rates of GBV are staggeringly high in Diepsloot, yet LvA is the only organisation of its kind in the community. LvA operates on a community-based model, with the aim to affect not only individual, but also systemic change. By focusing on a single, high-need community, we build long-lasting relationships with both our clients and relevant state actors, and are able to positively influence attitudes and behaviours around GBV over time. OUR WORK Legal Services: LvA provides legal assistance in two key areas: 1) Domestic violence, 2) Criminal cases of rape, sexual assault and domestic violence assault. Psycho-Social Support: LvA helps clients recover from the trauma of abuse through individual and group therapy, and provides referrals to shelters and other psycho-social services. State Actor Engagement: LvA engages with state actors at every level of the justice system to ensure the law is correctly applied and victims are treated with dignity and respect. Community Engagement: LvA conducts workshops to educate and empower local women, teachers, and learners to catalyze social change around GBV. CONTACT: info@lva.org.za www.lva.org.za Tel: +27 (0)87 150 7235 Lawyers against Abuse is a registered Public Benefit Organisation (PBO) (PBO Registration Details: PBO 930037235) and Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) (NPO #159-154). All donations are tax deductible.