Campaign research:

Sonke Gender Justice used a range of research methods to determine the content and design of the campaign. To decide on the content of the various “action sheets”, Sonke Gender Justice staff conducted literature reviews to identify similar materials that had been developed elsewhere. Many focus group discussions with survivors of violence, faith based leaders, teachers, coaches and young and adult men were held.

The team also carried out a number of street surveys, stopping men in shopping malls, restaurants, barber shops and bus stations to find out how they understood the problem of men's violence against women and what they would be willing to do about it.

To come up with the look and feel of the campaign, we worked with a youth advisory team and then tested different logos on the streets of Cape Town and Johannesburg with 120 men and women until we arrived at our final logo.

Campaign philosophy and approach:

Our research showed us that many men and boys are concerned about widespread domestic and sexual violence and want it to stop.

We heard that men and boys do worry about the safety of women and girls - their partners, sisters, mothers, girlfriends, wives, co-workers, neighbours, classmates and fellow congregants - and want to play a role in creating a safer and more just world.

The One Man Can Action Kit provides men with resources to act on their concerns about domestic and sexual violence. It will be useful for any man concerned about these issues, as well as for representatives from government, NGOs, CBOs and community groups who work with men and women to address issues of gender-based violence and HIV/AIDS.

The One Man Can Action Kit 

The toolkit includes materials such as:

• Stickers
• Music
• Clothing
• Video clips
• Posters
• Fact sheets

Strategies for action

In addition, the One Man Can Action Kit provides information and strategies on how men can:

• Support a survivor
• Use the law to demand justice
• Educate children early and often
• Challenge other men to take action
• Make schools safer for girls and boys
• Raise awareness in places of worship
• Build a human rights culture
• Promote democracy.

How can you use this Action Kit?

There are several ways in which you can use this Action Kit:

• Wear the t-shirt and talk to people about the message when they ask about it.
• Copy the information sheets and share them with friends, family, colleagues, team-mates and classmates.
• Put the posters up where as many different people as possible will see them – at work, at church, in your community centre, at clinics.
• Use the information sheets and posters to give presentations at community events.
• Watch the DVD and listen to the CD in a workshop setting and use the discussion guidelines afterwards to talk about what happened, what you heard and how you might take action.
• Carry out the workshop activities to educate your community about gender, relationships and violence.

Campaign partners:

The One Man Can Action Kit has been developed by the Sonke Gender Justice Network with support from:

Western Cape Office of the Premier - Directorate Social Dialogues and Human Rights
Western Cape Department of Housing and Local Government
UNICEF
South African Development Fund , and
International Organization on Migration .
The Campaign is a partnership between Sonke Gender Justice and many different local, national and international organisations.
In South Africa, campaign partners include:
Office on the Status of Women within the Presidency
National Department of Health
National Department of Provincial and Local Government
Treatment Action Campaign
Soul City
People Opposed to Woman Abuse
South African Football Players Union
Ecumenical Services for Socio Economic Transformation (ESSET)
HSRC's Fatherhood Project
Matchboxology
Men's Trust
Targeted AIDS Intervention
Hope Worldwide
PPASA
International partners include:
Commonwealth Secretariat
Family Violence Prevention Fund
UCLA's Program in Global Health
Instituto Promundo
Stop AIDS Now!
Men's Resources International
White Ribbon Campaign
EngenderHealth
Men Can Stop Rape