Men and boys play a critical role not only in the elimination of violence against women but also in treating with issues of gender equality.
This was the urge from UN resident co-ordinator Richard Blewitt as he spoke at the launch of the He-for-She Movement in T&T held at Fitzblackman Drive, Port-of-Spain yesterday.
Blewitt also signed in via the Internet as an active participant, and vowed his commitment to take action against all forms of violence and discrimination faced by women and girls.
He-For-She mobilises individual men and boys online and offline through the “sign up” approach that encourages increasing engagement, from initial awareness to advocacy to action, with actions being recorded and shared through a dedicated website.
Close to 150 local men have signed into the movement thus far.
The movement was launched by the Network of NGOs for the Advancement of Women.
On the launch Blewitt said: “This moment in history represents a unique opportunity to position gender equality and women’s empowerment at the heart of the global agenda.”
He added that the movement was launched by UN Women, with the first signatory and staunchest support being the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. He-For-She, Blewitt said, is aimed to enable men to identify with the issue of gender equality and to recognise the crucial role that they could play to partner with women in ending the global persisting inequality faced by women and girls, both in their own lives and at more structural levels in their communities.
“Through sensitisation, awareness raising and direct action, He-For-She challenges men to address gender equality as a human right and as a social and economic imperative, the achievement of which would benefit both men and women.
“The active participation of strong partners is central to the success of the campaign,” Blewitt added.
He said women continued to experience inequality in the labour market, with higher unemployment levels than men despite educational advancements, suffer pay inequity, are segmented in the lowest paying jobs and have very limited participation in elective Parliamentary process.
“This movement provides an unparalleled opportunity to engage men and boys as partners-in sharing the responsibility between women and men, girls and boys, in realising gender equality.
“This partnership is essential to addressing all forms of gender-based discrimination, including one of its most egregious forms, that of violence against women and girls,” Blewitt added.
He said worldwide almost one third of all women who have been in a relationship have experienced some form of violence by an intimate partner.
Blewitt also commended the Network’s adviser, Hazel Brown, for leading effort to launch the He-For-She campaign in this country and for bringing together men and women advocates to partner together to end all forms of discrimination.
Brown said between now and when International Women’s Day was observed in March next year, the movement intended to have some 10,000 men commit to He-For-She.
“We also intend to collaborate government official, men’s organisations and other civil society organisations, universities and schools to create and promote the He-For-She campaign.
“We also intend to inspire people and communities to take action against gender-based discrimination and violence,” Brown added.