More and more men reporting domestic violence

Mabeleme Mokete

Maseru – The theme for this year’s Men’s Day celebrations is “Race against gender based violence”. Men’s Day will be commemorated on November 19, 2021 this year, according to a press statement issued by SHE-HIVE Association yesterday. On behalf of SHE-HIVE’s president, the association’s treasurer ’Mampai Lebeko, said lately men are also increasingly becoming victims of gender-based violence (GBV) and it is a high time men speak out to curb violence. 

She added even perpetrators of GBV also need to be educated that abuse and violence are not a solution when resolving domestic issues.  Lebeko announced SHE-HIVE has decided to implement the ‘Men Engage’ programme to raise awareness to men about GBV. SHE-HIVE Executive Director ‘Mamakhethe Phomane said they are encouraged by the growing number of men who come to the association for psycho-social support services. 

“We cannot defeat this GBV if we are not working together with men. This is a race in which we need to pass on the baton of knowledge, education and good health to all. So since men are the backbone of their family’s peace they are also partners in the fight of GBV”, Phomane said.