GENDER BASED VIOLENCE & GENDER INEQUALITY
Gender-based violence, and particularly violence against women and girls, flourishes in a society where women are not seen and treated as equal to men. Unfortunately, despite a world-renowned Constitution based on human rights and laws to support those rights, South Africa is such a society. Gender-based violence is rooted in gender inequality. It has many drivers – poverty, trauma, substance abuse, lack of education and lack of economic opportunities to name a few – but these are contributors. The root cause of gender-based violence is the unequal power relation in which men are afforded more rights, privileges, resources and power. This has had a devastating impact on women and girls for eons amounting to unfair discrimination, violation of their human rights, marginalisation, objectification, and oppression. We focus on GBV awareness and prevention education. We work with many other organisations that assist victims/survivors with the support they need whether it is providing shelter, or supporting the victim at court. Our philosophy is that prevention is better than cure.
OBJECTIVES
- To build capacity, designate information and provide tools and strategies to women and men in order to eradicate and/or reduce gender-based violence and achieve violence-free communities
- To expand the knowledge base of women, men & youth on gender-based violence (GBV) and provide them with peaceful, non-violent solutions, tools & strategies to prevent GBV
- To increase the knowledge and understanding on Gender Inequality
- To influence positive attitudes, mindsets and behaviour change in communities.
- To transform communities from a culture of illness, conflict and despair to a culture of self-healing communities by increasing the capacity of people to shift cultural patterns and collective trauma responses and gain new knowledge and skills characterized by a rhythm of engagement
- To expand the collective knowledge of the community on how Substance Abuse influences GBV in communities
- To develop Trauma Informed Safe Circle Mentors in communities
SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH & RIGHTS
The importance of sexual and reproductive health and rights to prevent HIV and pregnancy in adolescent girls and young women cannot be underestimated. South Africa has the largest and most high-profile HIV epidemic in the world, with an estimated 7.7 million people living with HIV in 2018/2019. Recent figures by Stats SA revealed that 33,900 births registered in 2020 occurred to mothers aged 17 years and younger. Despite making some progress South Africans still face challenges and obstacles in accessing comprehensive treatment, prevention and care for sexually transmitted infections including HIV, sexual and reproductive health, family planning, contraception and pregnancy. Sexuality education has positive effects, including increasing young people’s knowledge and improving their attitudes related to sexual and reproductive health and behaviors. Too many young people receive confusing and conflicting information about relationships and sex, as they make the transition from childhood to adulthood. This has led to an increasing demand from young people for reliable information, which prepares them for a safe, productive and fulfilling life. These efforts also extend to making young girls aware of their sexual and reproductive rights
OBJECTIVES
- To increase young people’s knowledge and improving their attitudes and mindsets related to sexual and reproductive health and behaviors.
- To expand their knowledge to reduce HIV and teenage pregnancy amongst young people
- To understand the link between HIV, teenage pregnancy and GBV
- To understand the adverse social, economic and health effects of teenage pregnancies
- To help young people to develop the knowledge, autonomy and skills such as decision-making and negotiation
- To equip young people with the knowledge, skills, attitude and values that will empower the to develop respectful social and sexual relationships and consider how their choices affect their own well-being and that of others.
HEALTHY AND UNHEALTHY MASCULINITY
Shifting mindsets and changing behaviour of young boys and men is critical in dealing with gender based violence as men predominantly perpetrate GBV against women and girls. We work with teenagers and young men within communities and secondary schools engaging on male identity formation, gender stereotypes and gender-based violence. Our programme recognizes the need for boys and men to play a critical role in transforming gender beliefs and ideals of masculinity, in order to end gender-based violence. Progress towards gender equality is inextricably linked to sustainable male-focused programmes that increase awareness and advance gender equality frameworks.
OBJECTIVES
- To gain an understanding on the role of certain important players in raising emotionally and mentally whole and healthy men
- To understand the influence and impact of the father, mother and society on masculinity.
- To understand the link between negative masculinity and violence.
- To equip boys and young men with tools to deal with anger
- To understand the difference between their roles and purpose as men.
- To discuss strategies for a paradigm shift from negative to positive masculinity
HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY
Attitudes, ideas and characters are formed at a young age and these are heavily influenced by your environment. Human rights education in schools and in communities is an effective means to assist ordinary citizens, especially young people, to incorporate human rights values into their attitudes and behaviour. Assisting young people to incorporate these values into their daily lives is a concrete way to prevent bullying, discrimination and to promote inclusion, tolerance and respect for diversity. WLM believes that creating a society where all human rights are respected and promoted must start with human rights education. A ‘human rights respecting culture’ seeks to embed respect and responsibility for the realisation of rights through all levels of society. It is also about embedding an understanding of human rights and South African democratic values as a cornerstone of our social fabric and national ethos that inform all aspects of our nation.
OBJECTIVES
- To increase knowledge and understanding about the Constitution and Bill of Rights in order to take responsibility for respecting, defending, and promoting human rights
- To empower people and communities to increase their control of their own lives and the decisions that affect them.
- To recognize that the enjoyment of human rights by all citizens is a precondition to a just and humane society
- To recognize that human rights may be promoted and defended on an individual, collective, and institutional level
- Education about democracy and human rights provides people with the following information:
- the role and function of the State (legislature, executive and judiciary) in a constitutional democracy as well as basic democratic principles
- human rights principles, such as the universality, indivisibility, and interdependence of human rights
- how human rights promote participation in decision making and the peaceful resolution of conflicts
- To recognize that human rights may be promoted and defended on an individual, collective, and institutional level
- the history and continuing development of human rights
- using human rights law to protect human rights and to call violators to account for their actions
- the persons and agencies that are responsible for promoting, protecting, and respecting human rights
COMMUNITY ACTION PLANNING & PARTICIPATION
Active citizenship means people getting involved in their local communities and democracy at all levels, from towns to cities to nationwide activity. Active citizenship can be as small as a campaign to clean up your street or as big as educating young people about democratic values, skills and participation. Active citizenship is one of the most important steps towards building healthier and prosperous societies. As we understand it, active citizenship is a combination of knowledge, attitude, skills and actions that aim to contribute to building and maintaining a democratic society. Education towards gaining this knowledge and developing and practicing the skills take place in all levels of our shared social life through meaningful and effective participation where people can exercise their agency, autonomy and self-determination. Participation also limits the capacity of elites to impose their will on individuals and groups who may not have the means to defend their interests.
OBJECTIVES
- To gain knowledge and understanding about Community Participation and Community Action Plans (CAPs)
- To understand the inherent advantages of Community Participation and Community Action Plans (CAPs)
- To Identify root causes for community apathy and finding constructive solutions to encourage and increase community involvement in decision making and activities in communities
- To gain knowledge and skills on how to develop and implement Community Action Plans
- To gain valuable insights into the importance of Active Citizenship in a Democracy
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