A number of resolutions have been set out after the first Real Men’s Conference hosted over two days (Saturday 12 and Sunday 13) at Thusong Centre, Khayelitsha.
The conference, which had started as an imaginary thing on social media, saw a number of men from different communities converge under one roof to discuss various issues pertaining to them and society at large.
These included moral degeneration in society, Gender Based Violence (GBV), reshaping of fatherhood, being a man and many more.
Eric Kweleta, organiser of Uluvo Project, said they have resolved to convene a multistakeholder summit with a clear objective to table, canvass the report and resolutions of the men’s conference with a view to lobby for support and buy-in from society.
In presenting the resolution, Kweleta said in breaking the silence on whether men can cry, they noted that they lived in a patriarchal and hierarchal society where a notion is created that a man can’t be a victim.
Kweleta said this was before the conference and post the conference they now know “men have emotions, blood and have a right to be sensitive”.
He said they have noted that the society had put the burden on men of being “brave” and as a result “being vulnerable” is the sign of “weakness”.
“We note the destructive barriers that restrict men from showing emotions and freely expressing emotions. A number of men seem to be losing their motivation while women are gradually climbing. Not much work has been done to encourage and create a mechanism to ensure men have confidence to openly and freely express their emotions,” he said.
Kweleta said men were not going to counselling, psychosocial support as it was viewed as a sign of weakness and urged men to visit men’s clinic as well to ensure their well-being.
He said they resolved for the development of a framework that will primarily be entered on education and awareness of men, as they are human beings and therefore must participate in the available established institutions providing support to men.
Kweleta said they have also agreed to comply a comprehensive men’s health campaign with intentions to educate, raise awareness among fellow men as it is in their interest to participate in activities availed by men’s clinic.
They also resolved to engaged stakeholders on relevant fields to develop collaborative programmes aimed at doing psychosocial work for men and boys.
He said they resolved to develop a programme with clearly defined time frames in order to advance and implement this area of work.
“We also believe that broken relationships, arrogance and pride are a major source of parent absenteeism and clearly affect the child. When we no longer see eye to eye, after impregnating one another, let us not have a pride that will affect the child as they are innocent,” he said.
Kweleta said they will also develop and implement a curriculum and educational base of nurturing parental programmes for improvement of fathers’ involvement in their children’s life.
They will also establish a systematic campaign with all relevant stakeholders for the enforcement and support for the maintenance of children by fathers.
Petros Majola, who is a social activist for the rights of the marginalised, said he was happy that men finally came under one roof to discuss such important issues affecting communities and now it all depended on them how they implement the resolutions going forward.