Voices of Survival as a Tool for Justice: How Survivor-Led Tech can Strengthen Gender-Based Violence Prosecutions
The legal protections for survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) in South Africa were hard-won through the advocacy of feminist and civil society activists. During South Africa’s transition from apartheid to democracy, these activists fought to ensure that GBV was recognized as a serious violation of rights, rather than dismissed as a private matter. Their efforts led to progressive legal reforms aimed at making the justice system more victim-friendly.
But having laws on paper is not enough. The prosecution of GBV cases remains deeply flawed, reliant on stringent evidentiary requirements that often fail to reflect the realities of abuse. Research consistently shows that while the law guarantees certain rights, its implementation is inconsistent and unpredictable. Survivors entering the justice system cannot know for sure how they will be treated, whether their experiences will be believed, or what evidence will be deemed admissible. This uncertainty leaves many feeling dejected and discouraged from pursuing justice.
In South Africa, one of the biggest barriers to justice has been a lack of evidence. Survivors frequently encounter service provider indifference and case dismissals due to "insufficient evidence".
Technology is starting to change this reality.
Faced with these challenges, survivors are increasingly turning to technology to document their abuse. Many now use the tools already at their fingertips—posting about their experiences on social media, screenshotting WhatsApp conversations where perpetrators admit to abuse, or recording audio-visual evidence during violent episodes. These digital traces are shifting the landscape of GBV prosecution.
GRIT is serious about building on this momentum by creating survivor-led tech interventions like the GRIT App.Over the past year, the GRIT App has seen a surge in usage, surpassing 11,000 users, with many relying on its secure Vault feature to store critical evidence. Developed in collaboration with South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority, the vault is a feature of the GRIT app where survivors can load information about their inspecting officer, case number, court dates, and case details. Similarly, when survivors activate the panic button on the GRIT app, it records the interaction with the first responder.
Recently, survivors have been requesting access to their stored data for use in court.
This marks a significant shift in how technology can support legal outcomes
This emerging trend signals a potential turning point in GBV prosecutions—one where survivor-led documentation, supported by technology, helps to meet evidentiary standards that have historically worked against them. The fight for formal justice is far from over, but survivors are finding new ways to reclaim power, document harm, and strengthen their cases—on their own terms.
Smart Justice
The GRIT App is a data-free and free application available on google play and the Apple App Store. It is currently in the process of being upgraded to be more inclusive for marginalized groups as well as include an AI-powered platform designed to provide real-time assistance to survivors of GBV. At the press of a button, users can access immediate emergency response for free. GRIT also connects survivors to more holistic responses to GBV; the app includes a service map, mapping everything from psychosocial support services, legal assistance, shelters, and more. One of its most powerful features is the Vault, where users can securely store evidence, including text messages, photos, voice recordings, and reports from armed response teams.
One particular case highlights how this technology is increasing the chances of successful prosecution. A survivor who had been experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) used the GRIT App four times over the past year when their partner became violent. Each time, the survivor activated the emergency response. The GRIT App (with the survivor’s permission) recorded information that could be used to support their case in court. Through the GRIT App, the survivor stored data about their experiences and the audio recordings of phone calls to emergency services files. The GRIT team were able to provide the survivor with reports written by dispatched armed responders. These reports by first responders detailed the scene, actions taken, and additional services offered. The survivor opened a case, contacted SAPS multiple times, and needed transport to hospital—all of which they were able to document on the App for when they wanted to take further legal action.
The Power of Digital Evidence in Court
This kind of digital trail of abuse is invaluable in protection order matters and criminal trials where evidence is often lacking. Survivors frequently struggle to meet the court’s evidentiary requirements to prove ongoing abuse, and perpetrators exploit this gap to evade justice. But now, with technology like the GRIT App, survivors can present a comprehensive timeline of incidents, backed by audio recordings, responder reports, and live-stream footage—helping to corroborate their accounts in ways that were previously impossible.
According to an attorney from JVK Attorneys, who is currently working on the IPV case:
“One of the biggest challenges in GBV cases is the lack of tangible evidence. Survivors often face disbelief, especially in cases of repeated abuse without physical injuries. The GRIT App changes that. The ability to provide timestamped audio recordings, responder reports, and live-stream footage gives survivors a strong evidentiary foundation that can significantly strengthen their case in court.”
A Step Forward for Justice
More and more, survivors are turning to technology to document and store evidence, reshaping how GBV cases are prosecuted. The GRIT App is showing that technology can bridge the gap between survivors and formal justice, helping to ensure that cases aren’t dismissed due to "insufficient evidence."
But this is just the beginning. The growing use of digital evidence in courts has the potential to drive systemic change, pushing the justice system to take GBV cases more seriously, increasing conviction rates, and holding more perpetrators accountable.
If you or someone you know is in danger, the GRIT App is here to help. With real-time support and secure evidence storage, survivors can take back power—on their own terms.
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