TACKLING GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE SOCIAL CONSTRUCT AMONGST MEN WITHIN HIGHER EDUCATION AMAJITA’S MEN’S PROGRAMME (AMP) OBJECTIVES
PROBLEM STATEMENT Statistics on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in South Africa are relatively high and the higher learning institutions are also affected. Women in SA are disproportionately at risk of becoming victims of gender-based violence. There is therefore an urgent need for RADICAL and PERSISTENT responses, focusing on educating young men to become socially responsible participants.
AMP serves as a platform to bring together young men in higher learning to:
The Amajita’s Men’s Programme (AMP) was established in 2018
Act responsibly Be at the forefront in the fight against GBV
Change social construct among young men Become good citizens as men
How this is achieved
Focussed interventions
Gender-Based Violence dialogue
• Active mobilization of male students on
• Educate one another about “normalized” social ills which are
• Called for heightened oversight • Review of existing policies and disciplinary codes • Bridge the gap in policy reform • Need for champions: Chancellors, Rectorates, DVCs, Faculty
campus • Work together on solutions • Engage on various platforms • Take ownership of pertinent psycho-social issues on campus • Robustly challenge gender inequalities • Collaborate with all students in leadership
criminal offences by law • Unlearn what was entrenched in us as males • Promote access to health-seeking programs and services • Encourage male students to do their part and prevent GBV against women and girls • Promote the message that women play an integral role in society!
Responses of Amajita’s Men’s Programme in addressing GBV SILENT PROTEST • CPUT geared up for a silent protest to demonstrate support for victims of GBV
• For maximum effect campuses demonstrated same date and time 2019
• Purple ribbons wrapped around 400 trees across all campuses.
• Actively mobilized male participation
7 8
“A child not embraced by his community will grow to burn it down to feel its warmth – African Proverb” shared by a keynote speaker
“If we want the young boys that enter into our institution to unlearn all the negative and toxic things that cause them to mistreat women then we need to be persistent and radical in our approach.” (participant) Bellville
PLANNED INTERVENTIONS
Finding our role in society as men
Provide men’s support programmes/training/ interventions
Identify and recruit campus champion(s) Draft a social conflict resolution document in line with GBV Policy
a #M
p U n
o r #B
Campus Protection Services
22 13 13 13 48
13
13 48 48
e f i 4L
d a #M
Pre
N E r D
e l a M
M & ka
e g led
P s ’ en
M # ni
a l e ab
m rais u T Ma er:
t n se
Peer Educators Students/class reps LSRC House Committee
48
48
Stellenbosch
0
10
20
30
40
50
Wellington
WEAKNESSES Too few male participants engaged during the webinar Few men want to be at the forefront of the program THREATS Not having residence Amajita’s champions doesn’t allow us to have clear access to residences students and many campuses
t n a t is s s A r e c fi f O n Mentoring programme for male first year io t a c u d students (semester program) E er e P & t e i n m U m s a r d i g A o / r V P I H s ’ n e e h t M by ’s a t d i j e a n o m i A p f m o a r h o t C a n s i r i d fa or f o A C t | n e d a tu s S fi f o M n o i s i v i iso |D
S a od
s r the
22
OPPORTUNITIES There’s a clear way forward Social media mobilization has increased Invite male members of EM and Council to be speakers at the dialogues Invite a public figure to join as speakers Increase awareness amongst all males Conduct a gap analysis
Coordinate male and female dialogues on & off campus
Addressing the types of abuse
8 2
22
STRENGTHS The programme is known by students Objectives are understood by men Unity among CPUT students and staff on implementing objectives of the programme is visible
Address GBV prevalence on and off-campus
Educating High school boys
22
8
SWOT analysis
FOCUS AREAS
Family structural background (Unlearning the past)
2
Bellville Boland District 6 Staff Mowbray CampusBoland Stellenbosch Wellington Bellville District 6 Political Structures Boland District 6 Mowbray Campus Stellenbosch Wellington Bellville Boland District 6 Mowbray Campus Stellenbosch Wellington Wellington Mowbray Campus Stellenbosch Bellville Boland District 6
“Addressing cultural diversity in ensuring we embrace our differences and mobilize other men to be part of the movement which fights against GBV so it can be a continuous approach that’s meant to mentor and shape young men from their early years until the exit level of higher institution of learning to benefit their workspace and their communities” (Smail, 2019)
Fundamental factors causing the problems men face
7
“ GBV and all the matters related to it is a societal problem and is persistent therefore our response also should be persistent” (Kavanagh & Brown, 2020)
THE WAY FORWARD
Challenging institutions and toxic masculinity
7
2
8
Mowbray Campus
Addressing’s Societal Norms
Some Quotes/statements made: “GBV is the new silent pandemic that required everyone to be activists in their homes. “The real solution to GBV lies with men, men should tell perpetrators that they will expose them” - Prem Coopoo, CPUT’s Dean of Students. “Support should be given to victims of GBV and that the greatest travesty of justice is when anyone approaches victims of rape and GBV to withdraw charges against their perpetrators”. Sixolile Ngcobo, CGE’s Provincial Manager, “Now is the time to take action and for individuals to realize that solutions to GBV begin with theirCampus actions and reactions”. representation 2019 GBV dialogue
Campus representation 2019 GBV dialogue Campus representation 2019 Representation - GBV dialogue Campus representation 2019 GBV dialogue 2 Campus representation 2019 GBV dialogue 7 GBV dialogue 22 2 Campus representation 2019 GBV 8 dialogue 7 Religious Structure
Re-engineering of Amajita’s Programme 2020 webinar To equip, connect and broaden our horizon as young men. Inspire, motivate, educate and transform. Reflect on lifestyle, unlearning the past, societal dialect. A broader perspective on young men conduct in our modern society.
Deans, Senior Management Teams and other Statutory Bodies.