South Africa has what is likely the highest incidence of rape in the world; more than 50,000 rapes are reported to the police every year but the real number is probably far higher. One in every three women in South Africa undergo their first sexual experience under coercion.

A Dutch and South African organisation have joined forces and produced a Toolkit for Men, which is aimed at the rapists themselves. Rachel Ploem is coordinating the project on behalf of RutgersWFP, a Dutch sexual and reproductive health and rights organisation. She says that victims initiated the project.

“It was the women themselves who requested help from RutgersWFP; they didn’t want to end their relationships, they wanted an end to the violence in their relationships. They asked us to do something for their men. It was the victims of violence who asked for help for the perpetrators of the violence.”

Take a timeout
In response, Rutgers WPF teamed up with Mosaic, a South African Women’s sexual and reproductive health organisation, and they began investigating the problem and possible solutions. The Toolkit for Men was the result and it’s now ready to go.

The programme consists of 12 sessions; men are given information and lessons on equality within relationships, communicating without violence, male sexuality, female sexuality, culture and religion. The programme makes use of proven techniques such as taking a timeout when feeling violent and aggressive.

“The first step is to make men aware of the physical changes in the body - sweaty hands, a pounding heart - and when that happens, to walk away. The men make their agreement with their partners to leave when their emotions are out of control. This means that when they come back, it's not in that heightened state, not in the midst of a conflict."

New men
The programme will be run by women's organisations, which can be a problem in macho South Africa. However, Ms Ploem says male counsellors have been hired especially for the programme, which should help counteract male negativity. She also hopes that the growing new men's movement, fed by an increasing dissatisfaction with the definition of masculinity in South Africa, will help make the programme a success.

Peter Hermes, an expert on South Africa, acknowledges that rape is a huge problem in the country and says trauma is a significant aggravating factor.

“South Africa's post apartheid society has a very large group of traumatised people and that trauma is redirected onto the people closest to them. Rape is part of that; it’s a very serious and very common phenomenon in South Africa. It’s good news that a programme has been developed to deal with the issue”

Not a quick fix
According to Mr Hermes, the justice system is dealing with rapists more harshly than in the period directly following the fall of the apartheid system. He supports the RutgersWPF programme but says solving the problem will take a long, long time.

“If they are working with a local organisation - and I understand that they are - then that’s very good. If they offer their expertise to the local groups, that’s very good as well. However, they must realise that they are starting a project that will have to continue for a very long time because this isn’t an issue that can be solved overnight.”

The Toolkit for Men programme will kick off in Cape Town on 7 September. Rutgers WFP is also setting up a similar programme in Indonesia, which is scheduled for launch in 2012.