Human Rights Office, Projects and Progress

One Man Can

The One Man Can Campaign has been developed by Sonke Gender Justice and promotes the idea that each one of us can create a better, more equitable and more just world. The campaign’s major goal is to support men to advocate for gender equality, including taking active stands against domestic and sexual violence, and to promote and sustain change in their personal lives that protect them and their partners from HIV and AIDS.

South Africa has amongst the highest levels of gender based violence of any country in the world with research showing that every six hours, a woman is killed by her intimate partner; this is the highest rate recorded anywhere in the world. In South Africa, only one in nine victims of rape report it, and fewer than 10% of reported rapes lead to conviction.

PAHRO facilitates these OMC workshops in disadvantaged communities using the workshop activities and material which has been developed and is available to the public. The aim is to help men to take action in their own lives and in their communities to promote healthy relationships based on a commitment to gender equality and healthy models of masculinity. The priority is to change men’s attitudes and behaviour in ways which result in greater support to the women, young people and children in their homes and communities.

If this is an area of interest, volunteers are able to take this programme out and facilitate the workshops in the communities that need it most within Cape Town.