Anti-Femicide Pledge

We, the men and boys of St Martin’s School make the following pledge:

• We reject the patriarchy and the misery it has brought to women, girls, families and communities down the ages
• We reject gender-based violence; the abuse of children and especially of the girl-child; the mothers; sisters; grandmothers; aunts; cousins and all our beloved ones
• We reject the practice and culture of rape, of slander, of pornography, of vulgarity, of abuse in its many faces and guises - stereotyping, bullying, sexual harassment, inappropriate humour and demeaning language and snide comments
• We reject all forms of violence in our families and in our private relationships, including verbal, emotional, sexual, mental abuse

and

• We pledge to never commit nor support gender-based violence or abuse, in any form or type
• We pledge to actively speak out and work for gender justice, to no longer be a bystander who sees it as only a woman’s issue
• We pledge to speak up against gender-based violence and against abuse of all forms, against the patriarchy and sexism in all its forms
• We pledge to understand, learn and be taught about gender-based violence;
• We pledge to teach other men and boys how we can prevent gender-based violence so that it can be ended

This is my solemn vow before God and this community!

Pledge written by the Anglican Bishops and St Margaret’s Anglican Parish, Parow