France honours SA lawyer's work

Human rights lawyer Bonita Meyersfeld will be appointed a Knight of the National Order of Merit by France for her 20-year work addressing gender-based violence in SA. She will receive the award from France’s ambassador in SA, Christophe Farnaud, tomorrow, notes News24. ‘The appointment recognises Professor Meyersfeld's role in conceptualising and establishing Lawyers against Abuse (LvA), a non-profit organisation based in the informal settlement of Diepsloot, SA. Founded in 2011, LvA provides a cutting edge and unique service to victims of gender-based violence, integrating legal and psychosocial services to ensure that we travel the journey to justice and recovery with our clients,’ LvA executive director Lindsay Henson said in a statement. LvA's work includes providing legal and psychological support to more than 850 victims, assisting 528 clients with protection orders, supporting 163 clients pursuing criminal cases and providing more than 1 000 therapy sessions to 286 clients. Meyersfeld says the recognition is a testament to thousands of survivors of gender-based violence. ‘The Chevalier is testimony to the thousands of heroes who survive gender-based violence; to the powerful women who founded LvA; and to the women in our centre who work every day to make LvA the sanctuary and place of justice it is today,’ she said.