The intersection between human rights, culture, and gender-based violence: The realities of gender-based violence within the South African context.

This paper seeks to explore the realities of gender-based violence(GBV) within the African context, focusing on how traditions, culturalnorms, and values are perceived at the dawn of the recognition of humanrights. Culture, human rights, and GBV are profoundly interconnected andhave significant implications for individuals, communities, and societies. Itmust be noted that the paper does not seek to condone patriarchy orharmful practices that promote gender-based violence; instead, it aims tocreate a balance between these cultural practices and responses to gender-based violence. The dawn of human rights and legislative frameworks,which to some extent challenge the existence of some practices as notbeing in line with human rights, has led to some power struggles andimbalances within the relationships. The introduction of human rights andequality, which resulted in most programs focusing on empowering women,such as the 50/50 principle, without necessarily preparing men to live withempowered women, may be perceived by men as challenging theirauthority. These developments may create frustrated men who seeempowered women as a challenge to their leadership, culture, andtradition, and in defense, most men resort to violence as a way of trying tomaintain their authority within the family structure. This paper expandedon how patriarchal social structures, cultural norms and traditionalpractices, colonialism, economic marginalization, resistance, and resilienceimpact efforts to address GBV. The study findings highlighted that theefforts to prevent GBV should recognize the psychological realities andfrustrations of culturally inclined men.