Cookie Edwards is the Board Member of the KZN Network on Violence against Women. Having worked in the field of women’s rights for more than 25 years, her spheres of expertise include domestic violence, sexual and reproductive health, link between HIV and gender-based violence and environmental design for women’s safety in communities. Cookie has been involved in spearheading and implementing numerous projects on raising awareness about women’s rights, which include capacity building, lobbying and advocacy, creating effective networks, public awareness campaigns, conferences/seminars, etc.

She has presented a number of papers at national and international conferences and has been granted a number of national and international awards honouring her achievements in the field.

Cookie spearheaded a huge social mobilisation project in communities in the eThekwini Municipality that ignited the Prevention-in-Action movement, establishing over 50 Violence-Free Zones that focused on moving people from a sense of inaction to one of action to prevent sexual and gender-based violence. She implemented a pilot project for the Department of Social Development (Victim Empowerment Programme) that is currently operational for victims/survivors of domestic and sexual violence in nine communities called the White Door Centres of Hope.  She also assisted with management and oversight of St Michaels Women’s Hostel (a building with 44 bedrooms) and turned it into a safe and secure environment with accommodation for single women and single mothers in the low-income bracket.

Cookie was the provincial representative of the Interim Steering Committee on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide based at the Presidency in crafting South Africa’s National Strategic Plan on GBVF. She is currently strengthening GBV District Networks in the province of KwaZulu-Natal and has established four Rapid Response Teams in four communities to ensure clear referral pathways for survivors of GBV.