Men & Boys Engagement
(Brothers for Balance)
In the highly patriarchal societies in Africa, men and women have unequal power relations where men and boys wield more power and influence over women and girls. Consequently, engaging men and boys in promoting gender equality and addressing SRHR issues has not just become a necessity but rather a deliberate strategic intervention to catalyze efforts to achieve gender equality by 2030 in line with SDG5 target.
We aim to:
Raise Awareness:
Educate men and boys on the harmful effects of FGM and GBV to women and girls as well as to them as secondary survivors. In addition, we educate men and boys on sexual reproductive health and rights and parenthood.
Promote Advocacy:
Encourage men to use their power and influence to lobby for changes in formal and informal policies that perpetuate FGM and other harmful practices – e.g. lifting sanctions on uncut women, using their influence to lobby legislators to enact policies that promote gender equality.
Challenge Harmful Gender Norms.
Encourage men and boys to speak out against FGM and other harmful practices by promoting positive masculinity in their communities.
Ongoing Projects
Strengthening the movement of men and boys advocating for gender equality
Engaging Cultural Elders
Elders are the custodians of culture in different communities and they hold necessary keys to unlocking harmful cultural practices. Engaging them ensures nobody is left behind in the quest to end harmful practices.
Training of Male Champions
Training of Men End FGM champions in the 22 hot-spot counties aims at creating a critical mass of men and boys who clearly understand the need to change harmful social norms. Men yield immense power in different aspects of women’s life’s as fathers, bread winners, brothers, magistrates, religious and political leaders as well as custodians of cultural practices. We need to woo, lobby and identify men as allies in the quest to eliminate all forms of gender violence.
Engaging Religious Leaders
Engaging religious leaders is crucial in the fight against FGM. Their unique position, ability to foster dialogue, and influence within communities make them powerful allies in advocating for change and protecting the rights of girls and women.
Boy Guard Movement
The Boy Guard Movement is a transformative initiative designed to empower boys and young men to become positive agents of change within their communities. This movement seeks to nurture leadership qualities, critical thinking, and a strong sense of responsibility among boys, equipping them with the tools necessary to advocate for gender equality, challenge harmful cultural practices, and champion the rights and well-being of all.
Positive Parenting Forum
These forums bring together dads/mums and their daughters/sons with the aim of opening up conversations around FGM/C, menstrual hygiene, child marriage and other issues that affect them as children.
