The African National Congress (ANC), the ruling party of South Africa, has launched a nationwide campaign called Raising a Boy Child, which aims to educate and empower boys to become agents of change in the fight against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).
The campaign was launched by Cyril Ramaphosa on November 25, 2023, which marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and the start of the 16 Days of Activism against GBVF. The launch event took place in KwaZulu-Natal, one of the provinces with the highest rates of GBVF in the country.
The campaign involves various activities such as dialogues, workshops, camps, and mentorship programs that target boys from different age groups and backgrounds. The campaign seeks to raise the level of consciousness of boys and instill moral values, respect, and empathy for women and girls. The campaign also aims to challenge the harmful stereotypes and norms that contribute to GBVF and promote positive masculinity and healthy relationships.
The ANC said that the campaign is part of its commitment to end GBVF, which is a national crisis that affects millions of women and girls in South Africa. The ANC also called on all sectors of society, especially men and boys, to join the campaign and take a stand against GBVF.
The campaign is supported by various stakeholders, including the government, civil society, religious leaders, traditional leaders, and celebrities. Some of the partners of the campaign are Child Welfare South Africa, which runs a similar program called Boy Child, and the Department of Social Development, which provides funding and resources for the campaign.
The ANC hopes that the campaign will have a lasting impact on the lives of boys and the society at large. The ANC believes that by raising a boy child who respects and protects women and girls, it is raising a nation that is free from GBVF.
While this has been praised some critics argue that the launch of this is part of a publicity campaign by the ANC to gather votes ahead of the 2024 South African General Elections.
