Lawyers against Abuse is proud and delighted to announce that on 19 March, our founder and chair of our board, Prof. Bonita Meyersfeld, was appointed a Knight of the National Order of Merit by France in recognition of over 20 years of work addressing gender-based violence in South Africa. In particular, the appointment recognised Prof. Meyersfeld’s role in conceptualising and establishing Lawyers against Abuse.
This honour is awarded by the President of the French Republic to French citizens and foreign nationals for distinguished achievements such as “acts of devotion, bravery, generosity, real merit or a measurable commitment to serving others”. The award was bestowed upon Prof. Meyersfeld by the Ambassador of France to South Africa, H.E. Christophe Farnaud, at the French Residence in Pretoria, in front of Prof. Meyersfeld’s family, friends, and colleagues.
According to Prof. Meyersfeld, “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.”