Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is a major public health and human rights issue in South Africa. It has a devastating impact on women and girls, their families and their communities. Additionally, the intersection of poverty and VAWG / GBV creates a vicious cycle that can be difficult to break.

Many global studies conclude that the prevalence of VAWG / GBV is higher in communities where unhealthy masculinity, gender inequality & patriarchal cultural norms are prevalent. In South Africa, intersecting forms of violence are additionally rooted in structures reaching back to colonialism & to the apartheid era, with continuing forms of inequality characterising life & impacting the well-being of women and girls in post-apartheid South Africa.

VAWG / GBV, including school related violence against girls impacts & manifests in sexual, physical & psychological violence & is underpinned by inequality, social norms & toxic masculinity. Girls are raped, sexually assaulted & harassed at school, put under emotional pressure & denied the equal right to learn in a dignified environment.

In order for VAWG / GBV & the social norms that support it to be tackled within our communities, a “Whole School’s Approach” is needed. This includes engaging, educating and empowering all students to become active bystanders. Action Breaks Silence recognizes the pressure boys and men face to conform to gender norms associated with masculinity and the impact this could have on their mental health and wellbeing.