South Africa’s former ruling party, the New National Party (NNP), says the time has come for the Human Sciences Research Council to study the underlying causes of escalating violence against women and children in the country.
Speaking ahead of Women’s Day — which is celebrated on 9 August – NNP member of Parliament Anna van Wyk said in a statement that men also needed gender education. “It seems as if rural women think men feel threatened by the emancipation of women and their fight for human rights.
“Hints that there is a backlash from men because they feel threatened, raises the question whether it is not essential to educate men about gender issues. There are several organisations campaigning for the empowerment of women to raise the profile of gender relations. This should also be expanded to men.
“Life skills including the fostering of healthy interpersonal relations as well as the development of self-esteem, should form part of the compulsory curriculum in schools.
“Parental skills do not come naturally and society should train especially teenagers and single parents. Churches and community organisations can play a huge role in expanding the support networks.
“Social ills like drugs and gang violence as well as unemployment have a destructive impact on especially unemployed young men, who find it increasingly difficult to make their mark. It is therefore essential that the promotion of human rights where women are concerned as well as the role of men in dysfunctional relations should be addressed holistically.” – I-Net Bridge