Stories of Courage and Leadership

South African Traditional Leaders Speak Out to Engage Men in Creating Healthy Communities

In recent years, the important role that Traditional Leaders and their Councils can play in promoting gender equality and addressing violence, HIV and AIDS, and other health issues has been broadly recognized in South Africa. At the local level, Traditional Leaders can influence social norms by condemning HIV myths and stigma and speaking up with compassion on behalf of violence survivors. At the provincial and national levels, Leaders can contribute to the development and implementation of fair and effective child welfare, criminal justice, and health policies.