4 December 2007
In a bid to encourage and help South African men take action to end violence against women, the Sonke Gender Justice Network continues to roll out its One Man Can campaign across the country.
The campaign, a partnership between Sonke and a number of other local, national and international organisations, provides men and boys with resources to act on their concerns about domestic and sexual violence.
Launched in 2006 in conjunction with the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign, the One Man Can action toolkit includes a resource directory, workshop materials and information on how to develop healthy relationships and support victims of violence.
- More info, toolkit: One Man Can
Sonke co-director Bafana Khumalo said that men should play a meaningful role in the quest for gender equality. “As men we need to take a stand on these issues and make a difference.”
Sonke programme co-ordinator Nyanda ka-Khanyile said the organisation’s research over the last year showed that many men and boys were concerned about the widespread domestic and sexual violence in the country and wanted it to stop.
“As one man you can demand justice, love passionately, stop Aids, and end violence,” said ka-Khanyile.
“When a woman is abused and it goes unchallenged, that means all women are vulnerable to abuse too, my mother and sister and yours, and we as men and boys have to stand up and stop the abuse perpetrated by other men.”
The toolkit includes information stickers on the campaign, music with anti-abuse messages, slogan t-shirts, video clips, posters and fact sheets that those involved in the campaign can use and distribute.
It also provides information and strategies on how men can support a survivor of abuse, use the law to demand justice, educate children early and often, challenge other men to take action, make schools safer for girls and boys, raise awareness in places of worship, and build a human rights culture.
The One Man Can action toolkit was developed by the Sonke Gender Justice Network with support from the Western Cape provincial government, Unicef, the South African Development Fund, the Ford Foundation and the International Organisation on Migration.
Source: BuaNews
