Welcome Witbooi is a former gang member from Valhalla park, one of the most dangerous townships in South Africa. Growing gang violence is driving even higher levels of brutality against girls and women.

“Gangs do not have any respect for women,” explains Welcome. “When men need to show their strength and domain, they would sometimes be requested to rape women in order to prove their power over them.

Welcome transformed his life to become a women’s rights champion after taking part in a UK aid supported prisons project with Sonke Gender Justice. Their One Man Can campaign tackles HIV and gender-based violence.

Background

In March 2013 the United Nation's Commission on the Status of Women will meet to discuss how to prevent all forms of violence against women and girls.

This International Women's Day, help demand action by sending a message to global leaders that it's time to put a stop to this worldwide injustice.

UK aid is working in 21 countries to address physical and sexual violence against women and girls and will be supporting 10 million women and girls with improved access to security and justice services by 2015.

Find out more at www.dfid.gov.uk/violence-against-women-and-girls

For more information about the Sonke Gender Justice programme visit genderjustice.org.za/

Picture: Lindsay Mgbor/Department for International Development

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