SAMRC Durban research team members participate in a Gender Based Violence Workshop
Embracing the international campaign theme of “16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence”, the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) organised a full day workshop in Westville for employees on 29 November.
Facilitators, Dr Pinky Mahlangu and Ms. Mercilene Machisa from the Gender and Health Research Unit at SAMRC, focused on raising the social and personal consciousness of employees, the transforming of gender roles, and interventions for social change.
Attendees included 23 women and 7 men who held separate interactive discussions. The facilitators gauged their understanding of gender norms in society, community expectations of gender roles and the way men and women perceive their roles in the home, work, family and community environment.
Dr Nishanta Singh (PI) with Durban team members and workshop facilitators
These separate discussions were held before the men and women came together to discuss communication and parenting skills. Throughout the Workshop, non-SAMRC Health Counsellors were available to interact with employees privately for counselling sessions as needed. The facilitators sought to establish a confidential and judgement-free zone where employees could express themselves and their experiences openly and honestly.
Dr Nishanta Singh, Principal Investigator of PrEPVacc and members of the SAMRC including PrEPVacc community and regulatory team members who were among the participants.
“Gender Based Violence affects each one of us personally, as a community and as a nation,” said Dr Singh. “It has the power to erode the dignity of our society if left to fester unchallenged. We have the power as women, health promoters, community activists, colleagues and parents to curb this violence and bring about awareness, support, healing and ultimately transform this negativity within our communities.“
Employees explored the cultural and social factors that have led to an increase in GBV within the workplace, communities and families. This included the dominance of men in decision making, men’s perceived need for power, the effect of relative positions in a workplace, and the vulnerability of young women and children. Similar issues are experienced by SAMRC study participants who continue to report rape, sexual assault by partners and abuse of their children. In the women’s only group session, many employees shared the need for skills that will help educate sons to grow into men who respect and protect women.
During the session with men, there was an open discussion on how men perceived women in the context of Gender-Based Violence. They shared views on how to respect women within the family, workplace and community in order to achieve a civilized and non-violent society. A resolution was made by the men to be role models for creating a non-violent, respectful and supportive society.
The discussions brought out positive opinions on men embracing and accepting respectful verbal communication as a way of dealing with disagreements rather than resorting to physical violence.
Organisers expressed the hope that more men will participate in future Gender-Based Violence related workshops, and a follow up session on parenting skills was suggested to the facilitators so that the vicious cycle of GBV is broken. Employees also proposed to have a working group to address SAMRC policies on GBV, human and employee rights and transformation so that GBV violence in the workplace can be minimised.