Human Rights (Q1 2013)

Featured beneficiary in the HUMAN RIGHTS category for first quarter 2013:

MEN CAN STOP RAPE

Men Can Stop Rape advocates for a change in the way the public sees rape prevention. Rape culture is a huge problem in the US, with the focus on rape prevention often falling on women – their clothes, drinking habits and movements – rather than on men and their attitudes towards women, power and violence. In order to challenge this rape culture, Men Can Stop Rape aims to educate about masculinity, gender-based violence, and sexual harassment.

Their approach involves the mobilization of men to build cultures free from violence, especially gender-based violence. Offering men healthy role models and alternatives, they provide media materials across the US and in 20 countries, and promote sexual assault prevention in the US military. Through their Men of Strength Clubs, which run in high schools across ten states, they offer mentorship programs allowing students to discuss masculinity and build skills toward self-esteem and healthy relationships. A bystander intervention campaign for college-age men has recently been launched.

Men Can Stop Rape also provides training in preventing gender-based violence to a wide variety of groups, from religious groups and youth organizations to government agencies and colleges. Foundation Beyond Belief is delighted to offer support to a group challenging rape culture and providing positive solutions to the problem of rape and gender-based violence in the US.