The Deputy Minister of Social Development, Ms Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu in partnership with the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) Men’s Sector and the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Department of Social Development will host a District Men’s Parliament in Newcastle.
This intervention forms part of the Boys and Men Championing Change programme which is implemented under the Takuwani Riime Men’s Movement. The initiative is anchored on the belief that achieving gender equality includes transforming unequal power dynamics and improving gender relations between men and women.
Part of the programme involves open, and non-judgmental, dialogues that challenge the notion of toxic masculinity and traditional perceptions of manhood.
During the roll-out of the day’s event – men will discuss social ills and harmful cultural practices that perpetuate gender stereotypes, risky sexual behaviors, absent fatherhood, the role of mothers and gender-based violence.
The Men’s Parliament is also central to the implementation of the President’s Emergency Action on Gender-Based Violence and seeks to challenge patriarchy, unmasking the concept of toxic masculinity and the negative aspects of traditional ideas of what it means to be a “real man”.
In terms of the National Strategic Plan on HIV and AIDS, TB and STIs, the Department of Social Development is responsible for the implementation of Goal 4, which seeks to address social and structural drivers of HIV, TB ad STIs.
Globally, it is recognised that gender inequality, harmful cultural practices and beliefs influenced by patriarchal norms and toxic masculinities are some of the social and structural factors that drive the dual burden of gender-based violence and the spread of sexually transmitted infections - including HIV.
Members of the media are invited to attend and cover the Newcastle Men’s Parliament arranged as follows:
Date: Tuesday, 25 February 2020
Time: 10:00
Venue: Richview Civic Hall, Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal Province
Media can RSVP by contacting Ms Makhosazana Mavuso on 072 732 9381 / MakhosazanaMa@dsd.gov.za and Mr Jaconia Kobue on 063 249 5120 / JaconiaK@dsd.gov.za
