TEARS Foundation encourages men and boys to speak up about GBV

South Africa is recording terrifyingly high levels of violent crimes against women and children and research suggests that the country lost more than R36 billion in 2019 alone, due to gender-based violence.

South Africa is recording terrifyingly high levels of violent crimes against women and children with over 11 000 assault cases, where females were the victims, and opened cases with the police between April and June 2022. During this same period, 855 women and 243 children were killed.

Research suggests that the country lost more than R36 billion in 2019 alone, due to Gender-Based Violence (GBV). This includes out-of-pocket medical costs for GBV victims, judicial costs, and human capital loss, which refers to health, knowledge, skills, and competencies embodied in individuals that facilitate the creation of personal, social, and economic well-being. Society pays the price when it comes to violence against women, including healthcare, justice as well as loss of income, revenue, and taxes.

Non-profit organisation, TEARS Foundation has launched its 16 Days of Activism against GBV awareness campaign to start an important conversation online by calling all men and boys to speak up and break the cycle of generational beliefs regarding GBV.

“These numbers ought to shock the public and corporate South Africa into action. For real change to happen, we need to break the cycle of generational beliefs regarding GBV and encourage men to speak up when they witness it. They need to speak up around their friends and ask for the help they need if they are the perpetrators. We are giving them the tools to step up, speak up and break the cycle,” says Mara Glennie, founder and CEO of TEARS Foundation.

GBV does not prejudice against factors like age, gender, race, ethnicity or religion. Even though men are statistically most often the perpetrators of GBV, not all men perpetrate. They are often blamed for GBV, yet rarely incorporated in campaigns. To date, most GBV campaigns speak to women, but they are usually the victims.

The Speak Up initiative is about breaking the cycle of the behavioural patterns of perpetrators and survivors. Practical tips and tools are provided for survivors to spot the behavioural patterns and not become another statistic, while men are encouraged to take ownership of their actions, choices, and who they are.

Drugs and alcohol may affect one’s behaviour and it is important to recognise these triggers and get help if they are problems. “We encourage men to challenge traditional norms influencing notions of manhood and toxic masculinity, to challenge cultural norms, address GBV matters with friends and family and to find the courage to reach out for help,” says Glennie.

Men and boys who are not perpetrators don’t have to be part of the problem; they can step up and become defenders of women when it comes to GBV - in the workplace, at home, at school and in their social circles.

“Not only can they do something, but they must do something. They must speak up and make it clear that sexist jokes, inappropriate comments and aggression won’t be tolerated. They must refuse to overlook any form of violence and even notions of ownership of women and children. They must correct wrongdoings, report all violent acts, and set an example to fellow men as well as young boys,” adds Glennie.

Societal norms can influence boys from a young age, therefore raise them to break free from harmful stereotypes, and with the awareness that inappropriate comments and aggression towards women are wrong and encourage them to condone abusive behaviour.

Women can encourage their male friends, husbands, brothers, and fathers to be part of the GBV solution. This will also allow young boys to be able to engage in conversations with their mothers, aunts and sisters. Support dialogue and open conversations about GBV; it doesn’t matter who is conversing, it is the conversation that matters.

TEARS Foundation is a women-led, non-profit organisation (NPO) that provides access to crisis intervention, advocacy, counselling, and prevention education services for those impacted by rape, domestic violence, and child sexual abuse.

Globally, one in three women experienced physical or sexual violence, mostly by an intimate partner, even before the Covid-19 pandemic began. Data showed an increase in calls to domestic violence hotlines in many countries since the outbreak of the pandemic. Locally, over 1 000 non-government organisations (NGOs) and NPOs that dealt with abuse victims have needed to close their doors since the start of the pandemic. This has put tremendous strain on resources for those organisations that managed to keep their doors open.

“Where our primary objective previously has been to contain the trauma and refer survivors, we have had to expand our services to fill the gaps and assist victims on a more holistic basis, such as accompanying them to police stations to open cases and to court for protection order applications and arranging transport to get victims to safety and to hospitals for medical examinations,” says Glennie.

Helping just one victim may involve hours in providing the necessary assistance and support. This has meant that TEARS Foundation had to increase its staff complement and operational structures to keep up with the ever-increasing need. Ongoing management of its national database is also vital as it comprises some 2 531 organisations specialising in GBV services, which is key to its NPO model. “Donating to organisations that fight GBV is simply not enough. Unless businesses donate money and provide support, we are not going to fight the scourge of GBV,” says Glennie.

Please visit tears.co.za for resources or contact the free helpline number *134*7355# or 010 590 5920 (standard rates apply) -  both numbers are available 24/7. To find the nearest centre dealing with GBV free of charge, visit https://tears.storefind.mobi/ or send an email to info@tears.co.za

#16DaysofActivism #GBV #GenderBasedViolence #BreakTheCycle #SpeakUp

If you or someone you know has been raped or abused, dial *134*7355# (Free) or contact TEARS on 010 590 5920 (24/7).