Gender violence is an increasingly high-profile issue in South Africa. Coca-Cola has partnered Hope Worldwide since 2001 in its Men as Partners anti-gender violence and HIV/Aids awareness campaign to combat the issue.
So far Coca-Cola South Africa has committed R1,3-million to the programme, which runs in Khayelitsha in the Western Cape, Cato Manor in KwaZulu-Natal, Mthatha in the former Transkei, Alexandra in Gauteng and Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape.
Men’s issues in the anti-gender violence discussion have largely been neglected and Men as Partners helps to address this imbalance.
The programme focuses on promoting constructive male involvement in healthy sexual behaviour, safe sex and HIV/Aids prevention, sexually transmitted diseases and gender-based violence.
Men as Partners was started in 1999 using interventions such as interactive workshops and street interventions to create opportunities for men to examine contemporary gender roles and cultural norms.
The approach encourages men to discuss their attitudes to family planning, gender-based violence, sexual and reproductive health and gender roles.