Engaging men and boys
The context Progress towards the universal realisation of human rights in South Africa is hampered by high rates of violence against women and children, the continued spread of HIV, and the frequent absence of men’s positive presence in children’s lives. One woman or child in every 833 people is raped, which is far above the global average of one in 10,000. The real level of rape is much higher, as many cases go unreported: many victims are too disempowered, too intimidated or too fearful of further traumatisation in the criminal justice system to step forward. Most women who experience violence are victims in their own homes, at the hands of their husbands or partners. Where women are unprotected, children are equally at risk: child abuse is often correlated with domestic violence. South Africa also has the highest burden of HIV and AIDS globally, with more than 5.7 million people currently infected. More women than men are infected and women carry a higher burden of care and support for those with AIDS-related illnesses. It is very difficult for girls and women to protect themselves from HIV in a patriarchal society that gives men the power to initiate and dictate the terms of sex. High rates of HIV and AIDS have translated into large numbers of orphaned and vulnerable children. There are an estimated three million children who have lost one or both parents, about half as a result of AIDS-related deaths. Yet men are often not present in the care and upbringing of children, and for 40 per cent of children, completely absent in their households. In South Africa, the Department of Social Development is leading the development of a strategy to engage men and boys in the prevention of gender-based violence. In this context, addressing violence against women and children and HIV and AIDS cannot take place without the active engagement of men and boys. This fact has been increasingly recognised worldwide and has led to a movement towards the full participation of men at all levels. In South Africa, the Department of Social Development is leading the development of a strategy to engage men and boys in the prevention of gender-based violence. What UNICEF is doing In 2008, UNICEF researched a series of case studies on violence prevention. The aim was to develop models of best practice for countrywide scale up. The research report now informs UNICEF’s strategy to prevent and reduce violence against women and children. One element of this strategy is the direct engagement of the public, with a focus on high-risk people, including potential perpetrators. UNICEF is now deploying teams of facilitators to engage commuters and people living in rural areas on issues of domestic violence and child abuse. These “taxi talks” and “rural talks” have so far reached over 100,000 people. Within the UNICEF programme for orphans and vulnerable children, the organisation is promoting the engagement of men and boys with its partner, Sonke Gender Justice. In selected municipalities in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, Sonke Gender Justice has mobilised men as peer educators and developed their capacity to be advocates and activists in an effort to:
The engagement of men and children has also been incorporated in municipal integrated development plans. Sonke Gender Justice has also worked with children in schools to improve their understanding and challenge gender roles using various digital media. With the launch of the national ‘Brothers for Life’ mass media campaign, UNICEF’s support of Johns Hopkins Health and Education South Africa, one of the main partners in the campaign, will contribute to a specific component on gender-based violence.
What has been achieved An impact evaluation undertaken in 2009 demonstrated the impact of this work in increasing access to information and interventions on HIV; increasing condom use and uptake of voluntary counselling and testing for HIV; adherence to anti-retroviral therapy; and increased awareness and reporting of gender-based violence. Work in schools also challenged girls and boys to think about gender issues. “I learnt many things,” says 15-year-old Thulane Shange. “I used to think boys and girls can’t do the same things. I thought girls have to clean, cook and do chores around the house, and boys have to fetch firewood and herd cattle.” He says he now understands that women can also be heads of households and should be given the same rights and responsibilities as men. As part of the PhotoVoice school-based project that trains learners to use photography and writing to chronicle their daily lives, Thulane took a photo of a water tap and wrote: “At our school we have one tap but we have many learners. Girls must have their tap and boys must have their tap. Because when the boy wants to drink and there is a girl at the tap he just push the girl.” Going forward Recognising that men and boys play a key role in reducing violence against women and children, UNICEF is scaling up its behavioural change communications work in this area. It is applying a ‘Communications for Development’ approach – that is, a systematic, planned and evidence-informed strategic process that promotes positive behaviour and social change and transformation. The following activities will be carried out in 2010 and 2011:
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Resources on Violence prevention and response South Africa violence prevention model and action plan Compendium of case studies: Mapping & review of violence prevention programmes in South Africa Child Sexual Abuse - A handbook for parents and caregivers Pre- and post HIV test counselling for children - Guidelines for counsellors Gender-based violence and HIV/AIDS in South Africa series |
