In August 2015, SANAC’s Men’s Sector hosted a high-level dialogue forum aimed at highlighting men’s involvement in the HIV response and the impact of violence against women and children.
Convened by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, and attended by 120 representatives from development partners, government, business, labour, civil society and ordinary South African men from all walks of life, the theme of the dialogue was “Takuwani Riime!”: Institutionalising a Responsive Men’s Movement.” The event builds on the 2013 “Not in My Name” campaign that calls on men to halt the spread of gender-based violence in the country.
Gender-based violence is a major problem in South Africa, which has the highest proportion of reported rape cases in the world. Research by Genderlinks in 2011 revealed that 51.3% of women in Gauteng province had experienced violence of some kind, and 75.5% of men admitted to perpetrating violence against women at some point in their lives. Furthermore, violent acts were most likely to occur within intimate relationships and as little as 3% is reported to the police.
“It remains … our collective responsibility that we destroy structural violence and eradicate sexism not only in the public and private sectors, but also in our homes. The men’s social movement brings to our nation the clarity, focus and impetus which is urgently needed to construct a new society founded on human dignity, fairness, and peace.” Cyril Ramaphosa, Deputy President and Chairperson of SANAC
“Engaging men does not mean men must liberate women – women must liberate themselves from patriarchy.”
Bathabile Dlamini, Minister of Social Development
Research also shows that sexual violence greatly increases the risk of HIV infection among women. Exposure to violence limits women’s ability to engage in HIV preventive habits. Women abused at an early age are likely to engage in behaviour that places them at greater risk for HIV; and the stigma of being HIV positive and being a victim of violence diminishes self-esteem and quality of life.
Participants agreed that men are key to the solution in combating violence against women and children. The Men’s Sector plays a critical coordination and advocacy role in mobilizing the men of South Africa to stand up against violence in all its forms.
“The reality is that in South African men are not accessing treatment and not enough men are getting tested. That is why our partnership with the Men’s Sector is so critical. We are putting out a challenge to the Men’s Sector to work with SANAC to get back on track with levels of HIV testing we need in South Africa.”
Fareed Abdullah, CEO of SANAC
“Our commitment is very strong. Stronger than you can imagine. We are going to walk side by side, around, in front and at the back with the men of South Africa.”
Erasmus Morah, UNAIDS Country Director
The high-level dialogue saw robust participation from the Minister of Social Development. Bathabile Dlamini, Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Susan Shabangu, Chief Operating Officer of the South African Broadcasting Corporation Hlaudi Motsoeneng, UNAIDS Country Coordinator Erasmus Morah, SANAC CEO Fareed Abdullah and SANAC Co-Chair, Steve Letsike.
There were four major outcomes of the high-level dialogue: 1) commitment to institutionalize men’s organizations working the area of health and social justice; 2) promulgation of the South African Men’s Charter; 3) launch of the Men’s HIV Counselling and Testing Campaign and Programme of Action in support of 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence, and 4) the unveiling the South African Men of the Year Awards to celebrate men who are good role models.
At the dialogue, Men’s Sector Chairperson, Bafana Khumalo, launched the draft South African Men’s Charter, which will be disseminated to communities for extensive consultation. It is hoped that the final Men’s Charter will be adopted in November 2016 on International Men’s Day.
“A lot has happened since the ‘Not in my Name’ campaign but now we need to put our shoulders to the wheel and all work together to change the attitudes of men.”
Bafana Khumalo, Chairperson of the SANAC Men’s Sector