Toolkit for Men: Male counselling in the context of intimate partner violence

Toolkit for Men: Counselling in the context of intimate partner violence, is a programme for abusers aiming at stopping intimate partner violence and becoming a respectful partner. The Toolkit is developed and piloted in South Africa and Indonesia, in partnership with Mosaic, Riffka Annisa and WCC Bengklulu, and Rutgers WPF.

Why engaging men?

Gender based violence has an enormous impact on the dignity, autonomy and health of women and children, affecting all aspects of life and development. Therefore, in essence, they need a society that is supportive of their efforts to heal and empower themselves. But: “I don’t want the relationship to end…..I want the violence to stop!”, is the cry of many women, the survivors of domestically violent intimate partner relationships counselled by Mosaic Training, Service and Healing Centre for Women (Cape Town), Rifka Annisa and the Women’s Crises Centre Bengkulu (Indonesia).

Manhood under pressure

On the other side of the same coin, men are also perceived to be products of a system that emphasizes male domination and aggressiveness. There is no space in this system that permits the display of any form of vulnerability. Many men experience an inner conflict between forsaking the traditional role of maleness and the new, still to be defined male identity. In this sense, violence in the home can be considered as an ultimate expression of frustration. In various parts of the world, there continues to be a growing awareness that gender-based violence interventions should also target men in order to break the cycles of violence.

Partnership

It was this outcry of women that set the basis for a partnership between Rutgers WPF (Netherlands, Indonesia), Mosaic Training, Service and Healing Centre for Women, Rifka Annisa and WCC Bengkulu, to initiate the development of an intervention programme focused on behaviour change for male clients involved in intimate partner violence.