Involving men and boys in eliminating gender based violence

1. Involving men and boys in eliminating gender based violence Presented to a one day conference on gender based violence Uganda Christian university 9-12-15

2. outline • What is gender based violence (GBV) • Forms and sites • Major influences/causes • Men and women as victims • The greater role of men • Men as change agents • Conclusions and recommendations

3. Definition • Gender-based violence (GBV) is violence that is directed against a person on the basis of gender. It constitutes a breach of the fundamental right to life, liberty, security, dignity, equality between women and men, non-discrimination and physical and mental integrity. Wikipedia • Gender-based violence' and 'violence against women' are terms that are often used interchangeably as most gender-based violence is inflicted by men on women and girls. • G]ender‐based violence against women” shall mean violence that is directed against a woman because she is a woman or that affects women disproportionately[http://eige.europa.eu/gender-based-violence-

4. Cont- • Violence against women is a persistent and universal problem occurring in every culture and social group. Around the world, at least one in every three women has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime [https://www1.umn.edu] NB Important to note however that my lived experiences point to increasing violence against men by women-True meaning of gender based violence Gender-based violence undermines the health, dignity, security and autonomy of its victims, - [http://www.unfpa.org/gender-based-violence] It’s a violation of human fundamental rights like right to life

5. Cont- • According to the UN, violence against women is one of the most serious human rights abuses in the world and includes domestic abuse, rape, child marriages, and female circumcision. [http://whiteribbon.ca/wp-content]

6. Forms and sites • Comes in different forms and occurs in different sites in peoples lives! • In Uganda mainly comes in form of : • 1 Sexual Violence as a Weapon of War, e.g. Rape2. Pre-Natal Sex Selection3. Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting4. Date Rape5. Bride Burning or other forms of Dowry-Related Violence6. Child Marriage7. Trafficking of Girls and Women8. Domestic Violence9. Crimes Committed in the Name of Passion of Honor10. Abductions of Adolescent Girls During Combat11. Bride Kidnapping12. Sexual Harassment at Work13. Physical or Emotional Violence by an Intimate Partner14. Exploitation of Domestic Workers15. Femicide16. Forced Sterilisation or other Coerced Reproductive Practice-FGM

7. Major influences-causes • It is widely understood that GBV – be it in the form of isolated acts or systematic patterns of violence - is not caused by any single factor. Rather, it is a combination of several factors that increase the risk of a man / woman-committing violence and the risk of a woman/man experiencing violence. • Gender-based violence is a complex, complicated, and wide-ranging issue involving a multitude of factors embedded in culture, economy, law; and most intractably our cultural constructions of masculinities • . • Individual-level factors are biological and personal history factors that increase the risk of violence. For example, a low level of education, young age (early marriage) and low-economic status/income have been associated as risk factors [WHO] • Relationship-level factors contribute to the risk of GBV at the level of relationships with peers, intimate partners and family members.

8. Cont- • Community-level factors – cultures-norms and practices-male dominated(patriachal) • Men especially are victims of cultural beliefs that make them the main perpetrators of gender based violence

9. Control measures • Awareness- behavioral changes – among the perpetrators • Litigation-prosecution • Legal – policy frame work • Capacity building-affirmative action -education-financial independence

10. Why men/boys • As major perpetrators, the target audience for primary prevention, holders of the social norms and influencers on other men, men need to be engaged to reduce and prevent gender-based violence. • . “crisis of masculinity”. I.e. the pressures to provide and protect • Missing compliment- lessons form other control Iniatives i.e. planned parenthood • Work with men and boys can have a positive, transformative impact for the lives of women and girls, but also for the lives of men and boys

11. Cont- • The Beijing Platform for Action (1995) restated the principle of shared power and responsibility; and argued that women’s concerns could only be addressed in partnership with men. • The Cairo Program me of Action (1994) and its 1999 review highlighted the need to encourage men to take responsibility with respect to child-rearing and housework, family life as well as parenthood and sexual and reproductive behavior. • At its 48th session in 2009, the UN Commission on the Status of Women adopted agreed conclusions on “(t)he role of men and boys in achieving gender equality i.e. support men and boys to take an active part in the prevention and elimination of gender-based violence and [encourage the active involvement of men and boys in eliminating gender stereotypes]

12. Cont- • Some men are overtly hostile and at the extreme end are active leaders of change. • Contrary to what the common feeling is, men are not biologically programmed or "hardwired" to be abusive to -wards women • Need to work out measures that address appropriately each one category at the different levels of the Continuum • Measures must be guided by the fact that both sexes are victims though the female are more of victims

13. Cont- • Allow for the common appreciation of the grave challenges that (GBV) imposes on both sexes and the benefits of eliminating it to both • Appreciate the varied stances and work to gradually narrow the gaps through persuasion and where necessary compulsion • There is a need for collaboration between the change agent institutions and individuals of good will for effective and sustainable change to occur • “Together we can”

14. Cont- THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME ASANTE SANA