Our Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (“TFGBV”) Justice Centre provides legal advice and resources to enable access to justice.

TFGBV JUSTICE CENTRE.

You are here: TFGBV Justice Centre. Learn more about our Practices and Legal Services.

About our Justice Centre.

Overview.

In order to support victims and survivors, Power Law Africa’s South African Office operates a Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (“TFGBV”) Justice Centre from 09h00-12h00 on the last Thursday of every month.

To schedule a consultation (both in-person or online), please book through our online form, e-mail your preferred date and time to the e-mail address below, or call us to schedule a booking.

The Justice Centre is based at 20 Baker Street, Rosebank, Johannesburg, South Africa for in-person consultations.

The Justice Centre is staffed by admitted attorneys and candidate legal practitioners who provide pro bono advice, resources, referrals, and legal support on TFGBV-related matters.

For more information, please email [email protected] or contact +27(0)10 822 7860.

* Kindly note that to manage workloads, in-person and virtual consultations are by prior arrangement only. For security reasons, if you visit the offices without a prior appointment, you may be asked to return once an appointment has been made.
What we assist with.
Our TFGBV Justice Centre provides advice, resources, referrals, and legal support on TFGBV-related matters, which include:

Online harassment, including but not limited to:

Sexual harassment;

Doxxing; and

Hate speech intended to incite violence or hatred.

Image-based abuse:

The non-consensual sharing of intimate images (“NCII”) and videos;

Sextortion; and

Deepfakes and AI-generated image abuse.

* Our TFGBV Justice Centre focuses on harms that happen online or through technology. This means we may not always be able to assist with matters that are not connected to digital or online abuse. If your matter falls outside our scope, we will do our best to refer you to other organisations or services that can support you.
What services we provide.
Our TFGBV Justice Centre assists with:

Advice

General guidance;

Guidance on complaints mechanisms and court processes;

Preliminary assessments on the merits of a matter; and

Preliminary advice on potential options.

Assistance in reporting pathways, which includes reporting to the:

The South African Police Service;

The South African Human Rights Commission;

The Commission for Gender Equality; and

Social Media or other tech platforms to take down harmful content.

Resources

Providing legal information and resources, including assistance with completing prescribed forms.

Referrals

Providing referrals to complaints mechanisms, regulatory bodies, state departments or forums, Chapter 9 Institutions, civil society organisations, and other legal practitioners, where possible.

Legal support

Where a matter has prospects of success and subject to capacity and available resources, Power Law Africa attorneys may be able to assist with pro bono or reduced fee legal support.
What do I need to bring with me?
Useful terminology

AI-generated image abuse: When artificial intelligence (AI) is used to create or alter images of a person in a harmful way. This can include the manipulation of images to nudify an individual or portray them in sexualised or compromising positions without their consent.

Deepfakes: Images, videos, or audio that have been digitally altered to make it seem like someone said or did something they did not actually do.

Hate speech: Speech or content that targets or attacks a person or group based on who they are, such as their race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or nationality, and promotes harm or discrimination.

Incitement: When someone encourages or urges others to harm a person or group, whether through violence, harassment, or other harmful actions.

Non-consensual sharing of intimate images: The sharing or distribution of private, intimate photos or videos of someone without their permission.

Protection order: A legal order from a court that helps protect someone from harm by placing restrictions on another person’s behaviour, such as preventing them from contacting or approaching you.

Sexual harassment: Unwanted sexual behaviour, comments, or advances that make a person feel uncomfortable, unsafe, or humiliated. This can happen in person or online.

Sextortion: A form of exploitation where someone threatens to share intimate images or information unless the person pays money, sends more images, or complies with demands.