Multistakeholder Coordination in Action
The Violence Prevention for Peaceful and Inclusive Communities Programme recently partnered with the Department of Basic Education, the Department of Women Youth and Persons with Disabilities, GBVF Response Fund1 and UNICEF to support the G20 Ministerial Dialogue on Positive Masculinity held on the 30 October 2025 in Johannesburg.
The Violence Prevention for Peaceful and Inclusive Communities Programme recently partnered with the Department of Basic Education, the Department of Women Youth and Persons with Disabilities, GBVF Response Fund1 and UNICEF to support the G20 Ministerial Dialogue on Positive Masculinity held on the 30 October 2025 in Johannesburg. This collective led one of the three thematic tracks on Education for Change: Advancing positive masculinity in schools and communities to disrupt patterns of violence and promote equality.
Held under the theme of Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability, the G20 Ministerial Dialogue focused on elevating the transformation of masculinities from a national imperative to a core G20 policy priority for accelerating the end of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF).
The VPPIC programme further supported a parallel session which convened 20 learners from Tembisa in Gauteng to develop a declaration against toxic masculinities and its negative impacts. This declaration is built on the outcomes of a coordinated multi-site learner engagement programme held in the buildup to the Ministerial Dialogue, which was focused on positive masculinity, respectful relationships, bullying, and peer pressure.
During these buildup activities, 225 learners, including 25 Learners with special education needs, engaged on how to promote positive masculinities and respectful relationships and co-create solutions to reduce toxic masculinity amongst boys. An additional 75 learners from schools in the VPPIC Programme’s localised implementation sites in KwaZulu-Natal and North West joined virtually, along with learners in Limpopo.
The declaration was an opportunity for learners to represent the voices of their peers to a high-level audience. Amongst the recommendations, the learner representatives called for:
- Self-Introspection: Encouraging boys to reflect on their values and behaviours as a first step in dismantling toxic norms.
- Teaching Chivalry and Positive Role Modelling: Promoting respect, care, and accountability as masculine strengths.
- Celebrating Individuality: Valuing each learner’s unique identity rather than enforcing narrow stereotypes.
- Normalising Emotional Expression: Creating safe spaces in schools for boys to discuss feelings and mental health.
- Curriculum and Activities: Integrating programmes that address gender norms, bullying, and peer pressure into the school curriculum.
It is through such multistakeholder activities – which demonstrate the effectiveness of coordinated action - that the VPPIC programme supports sustainable early violence prevention approaches which seek to create safer and more inclusive communities in South Africa.
