The first ever national Men’s Rally against violence
Addressing the rally at the Johannesburg Stadium on August 24, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe who led the rally, called on South African men to take a stand against any form of prejudice or violence directed towards women. “We are here today to encourage men to take a stand against gender-based violence. We do this well aware that the majority of victims of domestic violence are girl children, women and even our grannies.”
Organised by Brothers for Life and the SANAC Men’s Sector, under the theme “Not in My Name”, the event was the culmination of weeks spent in 34 community dialogues educating communities, particularly men, about the adverse effects of gender-based violence.
The dialogues were a partnership of various organisations including the Men’s Sector, Sonke Gender Justice Network, the National Association of People Living with HIV and AIDS (NAPWA), the SA Men’s Action Group, and Johns Hopkins Health and Education South Africa (JHHESA).
The rally drew various high profile individuals, including the Minister for Women, Children and People with Disabilities, Lulu Xingwana, who encouraged the “Not in My Name” campaign to continue encouraging men to raise their voices against women and child abuse. “Women have always participated in awareness campaigns and have led marches against gender-based violence as victims, survivors and supporters of the affected. So it is humbling to see men taking a stand against this scourge,” said Xingwana.
Actor and Brothers for Life Ambassador, Patrick Shai, also supported the rally: “No man should allow his friends to commit acts of violence on women. Let us make a collective effort to ensure that these crimes don’t continue to happen. Our women and children should live happily in the streets and in their homes.”
| “No man should allow his friends to commit acts of violence on women. Let us make a collective effort to ensure that these crimes don’t continue to happen. Our women and children should live happily in the streets and in their homes.”
PATRICK SHAI |
At the end of the rally participants signed a pledge committing themselves to help curb women and child abuse.
Content supplied by the
Yezingane Network