Efforts to mobilise men against GBV and spread of HIV continue

Alexandra men are intensifying their mission to mobilise others, giving them a platform to address gender-based violence and the spread of HIV.
This follows the inaugural sitting of the Men’s Parliament under the theme ‘Deepening accountability among men and boys to respond decisively to South African socio-economic challenges’, on May 23 at the Constance Connie Bapela Council Chamber in Johannesburg.

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The co-chairperson of the Men’s Parliament Charles Mphephu said that ahead of its first sitting, outreach campaigns were conducted in the sub-district. Even after the first sitting of the parliament, he noted that efforts to expand their reach had intensified. “On May 26, we started at Madala hostel, and we went to Nobuhle hostel to engage with those men. We moved to the Council at Pan next to the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court. We were also at the Organic market and Last Gate in Tsutsumane, and we engaged with men,” Mphephu noted.

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The goal is to help men change their harmful social behaviour, which exacerbates the rate of GBV and the spread of HIV. Speaking during the first sitting of the parliament, the secretary of the City of Johannesburg men’s sector Sibusiso Sithole stressed that young men often lacked the support they needed compared to young women. “We are forgetting that these young women will eventually date at some point. And the person they will be dating is the same person who was in high school with them, standing there in the corner and not receiving any support, not receiving any information around GBV or [HIV] treatment.”

In his closing remarks, Mphehu urged men to make sure that every ward in their region supported this men’s initiative. “The vision is to institutionalise a responsive men’s movement, and the mission is to call men to action, to stand up and be counted as relevant in building a men’s society movement that is robust, accountable and follows the rules of law.”
He concluded by the end of December, they planned to reach 3 500 men, and were currently approaching a milestone of 500.

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