Ending GBV is men’s job – president

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on South Africans, men in particular, to urgently work determinedly towards a time when no woman or child will be a victim of violence again.

Ramaphosa was speaking during a virtual dialogue on the state of gender-based violence and femicide on Wednesday evening as the country launched the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children.

He said violence against women was men’s problem and they had to take responsibility at a personal level to protect the women and children of South Africa.

Men needed to work until there was no need for a 16 days of activism campaign.

“It is men who can challenge harmful cultural and social practices that undermine women’s rights,” he said.

“It is men who can and must refuse to be part of criminal gangs that assault and rape women. Whether we are individuals, families, communities, religious or traditional leaders, let us take responsibility for ending this problem.

“It is chauvinistic and sexist attitudes that lead men to believe they are superior to their mothers, wives and partners and daughters.”

These attitudes led to sexual harassment in public spaces, schools and workplaces being normalised and for that to change, attitudes must change.

The president said the gender-based violence crisis demanded the government implement measures to protect women and girls and advance their rights, adding the National Strategic Plan was one of the tools guiding the efforts to combat the scourge.

The government had allocated more funds to improve services at shelters and places of safety, was drafting a Bill on gender-based violence and a femicide council and increasing support to women-owned micro, small and medium enterprises.

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