A Call to Action: Include Men and Boys in the Struggle for Gender Justice
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Statement of 10 priority actions to change destructive gender norms and notions of masculinity, and entrench gender equality as a human right in the Post-2015 Development Agenda emerges from four day MenEngage Global Symposium in New Delhi.
New Delhi: As India comes to terms with the deaths of 13 young women following botched sterilisation procedures carried out at a government run health camp in Chhattisgarh, delegates at the 2nd MenEngage Global Symposium in the capital today issued the Delhi Call To Action, which includes a recommendation that men take more of the responsibility for using contraception away from women.
“Throughout the world sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is considered to be the sole responsibility of women,” said Andrew Levack, Deputy Director, US Programs for Promundo.
“What we know from research is that men who hold more traditional notions of masculinity are less likely to use condoms, less likely to report STI symptoms, more likely to see pregnancy as a validation of masculinity, and more likely to use violence against a partner. Men’s lower utilization of SRH services is a result of both rigid gender norms, as well as structural barriers including a dearth of male family planning methods.
“If men were prepared to take on greater responsibility for SRH, then the likelihood of tragedies such as the one which has unfolded in Chhattisgarh this week might be reduced. This includes men in leadership positions, including in government and the healthcare sector, who should critically reflect on their uses of power and the decisions they make - being a silent bystander to an unjust act means being complicit in the act.”
The four day MenEngage Global Symposium saw a coming together of 1200 delegates from 94 countries, representing feminist organizations, academia working on gender issues and scores of community and civil society organizations working on the ground across the world to catalyse changes in gender norms and entrenched notions of masculinity through work with men and boys.
The Symposium concluded with the issue of the Delhi Call to Action which, through a clear set of 10 statements and affirmations, both acknowledges gender equality as an essential component of human rights which must be reflected in the Post-2015 Development Agenda and urges the full inclusion of men and boys in the struggle to achieve gender justice.
“The real discussion about engaging men and boys for gender equality has to be about transforming gender relations and men assuming responsibility,” said Ms Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director, UN Women, “so there is quite a bit of homework for the men of the world to do.”
The Call to Action also declares that ‘patriarchal power, expressed through dominant masculinities, is among the forces driving structural injustices and exploitation’ including increased militarism and globalisation, which can lead to war and civil conflict, economic inequality, violent manifestations of political and religious fundamentalism, state violence, human trafficking and the destruction of natural resources. Men and boys are both privileged and damaged by patriarchy, but are rarely aware of that fact. They are also gendered beings. Gender equality brings benefits to women, men and other genders.
“We are concerned about the growing militarization of society across the world and the levels of repression on civil society and human rights organizations,” said Dean Peacock, Co-chair of the MenEngage Alliance.
“This, along with the rise of religious fundamentalisms, often in tandem with spiralling unemployment is seriously undermining all the work we are doing to change expressions of power.”
Other highlights from the declaration include calls to:
The work of the MenEngage Alliance is inclusive of all aspects of social justice, and recognises that issues around gender equality have a major impact on wider communities, such as those who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer / Questioning (LGBTIQ), some of whom identify as neither male nor female.
Men and boys are also subject to gender inequality too, albeit not in the same way nor to the same extent as women and girls.
“No longer should any girl be deprived of her education, be married too early or against her will, be harmed or abused. No longer should any boy face, witness or perpetrate violence because of the need to be seen as a real man,” said Frederika Meijer, Country Representative, UNFPA India.
“Too many boys and young men experience various forms of stigma, discrimination and violence because of their racial or ethnic origin, caste, socio-economic status, age, sexual orientation or gender identity, or simply because they do not conform to the traditional patterns of being a man. We hold individual dignity as necessary for a true transformation of our societies.”
Based on evidence generated through its research and programme initiatives, UNFPA has a strong logical and institutional rationale for working with men and boys to promote gender equality and to secure sexual and reproductive health and rights for all. UNFPA programmes on engaging men and boys, spread across multiple countries around the world, including India, and seek to increase men’s sense of ownership over new initiatives that promote gender equity, equality and women’s empowerment. UNFPA is a key technical partner and the major sponsor for the symposium.
UN Women’s participation in the 2nd MenEngage Global Symposium is a central part of its Beijing+20 campaign. UN Women’s work on engaging men and boys for gender equality is anchored in the belief that achieving gender equality is about transforming unequal power relations between men and women.
Other donors are: UNDP, UKaid, Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, ActionAid, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, American Center, American Jewish World Service, Sida, Norad, Swissaid and Oak Foundation.
New Delhi: As India comes to terms with the deaths of 13 young women following botched sterilisation procedures carried out at a government run health camp in Chhattisgarh, delegates at the 2nd MenEngage Global Symposium in the capital today issued the Delhi Call To Action, which includes a recommendation that men take more of the responsibility for using contraception away from women.
“Throughout the world sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is considered to be the sole responsibility of women,” said Andrew Levack, Deputy Director, US Programs for Promundo.
“What we know from research is that men who hold more traditional notions of masculinity are less likely to use condoms, less likely to report STI symptoms, more likely to see pregnancy as a validation of masculinity, and more likely to use violence against a partner. Men’s lower utilization of SRH services is a result of both rigid gender norms, as well as structural barriers including a dearth of male family planning methods.
“If men were prepared to take on greater responsibility for SRH, then the likelihood of tragedies such as the one which has unfolded in Chhattisgarh this week might be reduced. This includes men in leadership positions, including in government and the healthcare sector, who should critically reflect on their uses of power and the decisions they make - being a silent bystander to an unjust act means being complicit in the act.”
The four day MenEngage Global Symposium saw a coming together of 1200 delegates from 94 countries, representing feminist organizations, academia working on gender issues and scores of community and civil society organizations working on the ground across the world to catalyse changes in gender norms and entrenched notions of masculinity through work with men and boys.
The Symposium concluded with the issue of the Delhi Call to Action which, through a clear set of 10 statements and affirmations, both acknowledges gender equality as an essential component of human rights which must be reflected in the Post-2015 Development Agenda and urges the full inclusion of men and boys in the struggle to achieve gender justice.
“The real discussion about engaging men and boys for gender equality has to be about transforming gender relations and men assuming responsibility,” said Ms Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director, UN Women, “so there is quite a bit of homework for the men of the world to do.”
The Call to Action also declares that ‘patriarchal power, expressed through dominant masculinities, is among the forces driving structural injustices and exploitation’ including increased militarism and globalisation, which can lead to war and civil conflict, economic inequality, violent manifestations of political and religious fundamentalism, state violence, human trafficking and the destruction of natural resources. Men and boys are both privileged and damaged by patriarchy, but are rarely aware of that fact. They are also gendered beings. Gender equality brings benefits to women, men and other genders.
“We are concerned about the growing militarization of society across the world and the levels of repression on civil society and human rights organizations,” said Dean Peacock, Co-chair of the MenEngage Alliance.
“This, along with the rise of religious fundamentalisms, often in tandem with spiralling unemployment is seriously undermining all the work we are doing to change expressions of power.”
Other highlights from the declaration include calls to:
- Overcome the immense threat caused by patriarchy and gender injustice, which remain defining characteristics of societies around the world, with devastating consequences on everyone’s daily lives
- Acknowledge that gender inequalities are unacceptable no matter who is affected
- Continue to work with men and boys towards gender equality, informed by feminist and human rights principles, organizations and movements in a spirit of solidarity.
- Seek to make visible the most effective ways men and boys can contribute to gender equality, without being used as mere instruments.
- Expose links between patriarchy and the exploitation of people and environment, and help boys and men change their behaviour from "power over” to "power with.”
- Policymakers and donors to dramatically increase resources available for gender justice work and include effective gender justice strategies in all development programmes.
The work of the MenEngage Alliance is inclusive of all aspects of social justice, and recognises that issues around gender equality have a major impact on wider communities, such as those who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer / Questioning (LGBTIQ), some of whom identify as neither male nor female.
Men and boys are also subject to gender inequality too, albeit not in the same way nor to the same extent as women and girls.
“No longer should any girl be deprived of her education, be married too early or against her will, be harmed or abused. No longer should any boy face, witness or perpetrate violence because of the need to be seen as a real man,” said Frederika Meijer, Country Representative, UNFPA India.
“Too many boys and young men experience various forms of stigma, discrimination and violence because of their racial or ethnic origin, caste, socio-economic status, age, sexual orientation or gender identity, or simply because they do not conform to the traditional patterns of being a man. We hold individual dignity as necessary for a true transformation of our societies.”
Based on evidence generated through its research and programme initiatives, UNFPA has a strong logical and institutional rationale for working with men and boys to promote gender equality and to secure sexual and reproductive health and rights for all. UNFPA programmes on engaging men and boys, spread across multiple countries around the world, including India, and seek to increase men’s sense of ownership over new initiatives that promote gender equity, equality and women’s empowerment. UNFPA is a key technical partner and the major sponsor for the symposium.
UN Women’s participation in the 2nd MenEngage Global Symposium is a central part of its Beijing+20 campaign. UN Women’s work on engaging men and boys for gender equality is anchored in the belief that achieving gender equality is about transforming unequal power relations between men and women.
Other donors are: UNDP, UKaid, Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, ActionAid, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, American Center, American Jewish World Service, Sida, Norad, Swissaid and Oak Foundation.