Tears Foundation celebrates 10 year anniversary

Men need to be engaged to end gender-based violence against women and children.

This is according to Mara Glennie, CEO and founder of the TEARS Foundation.

“Despite the many initiatives implemented across the public and private sectors, South Africa still has one of the highest incidence rates of violence against women and children in the world.

“Men are the principal perpetrators of violence against women and girls, and a radical mindset shift is necessary to bring about lasting behavioural change. Efforts to end GBV falter when men are not engaged as part of the solution,” said Glennie.

“Men are often the problem and so must be part of the solution. Partnering with men as allies to establish positive gender attitudes is key to changing a culture that has historically reinforced GBV.”

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According to Glennie, men have a crucial role to play as fathers, friends, decision-makers, and community opinion leaders to speak out against violence and ensure that priority is given to the ongoing issue.

“This year we celebrate a decade since our humble beginnings from my dining-room table. This is after I walked away from many years of intimate partner violence, with only a phonebook and two university students to help me.

“While non-profit organisations such as TEARS continue to inspire high levels of trust to address societal ills, they do not have the financial resources needed to achieve sustainable, large-scale impact.

“Even though people and organisations have become more vocal about GBV and realising the power of their voices in combatting this malaise, NPOs are constantly hat in hand, asking for funding support.

“Despite the willingness of businesses to get involved in initiatives designed to combat GBV, very little is being achieved largely because efforts are often duplicated, and there is no coherent strategy,” said Glennie.

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She said that there is a massive need for an effective social contract between all players in the fight against GBV.

“We need to recognise and clearly define the respective roles of all players, and how they can work in synergy to ensure that there are systems of financing and effective multi-sectoral collaboration in place.”

“As Madiba so poignantly said, ‘what counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived, it is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead’.”

“Only seven of the top 100 JSE-listed companies in South Africa have female CEOs, and with Madiba’s words as context, I encourage the active involvement of all our male CEOs in the private sector to make a real and lasting impact, “ Glennie added.

She said the time to stop paying lip service to solve the scourge of GBV in South Africa and start implementing collaborative solutions that are outcomes-based.