MenEngage Alliance

?? Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women?— marking the start of #16DaysOfActivism to end gender-based violence. ?? Did you know? According to the United Nations, on average,?one woman is killed every 10 minutes?simply because she is a woman. This is called femicide. ?? The truth:?Most violence is committed by men. While it’s not “all men,” we all live in a world where such violence by men is normalized and condoned. After all, violence against women and girls isn’t inevitable—it’s rooted in inequality and systemic injustice. ?? All men and boys live in a world where such a degree of violence takes place. That's why?all men and boys have the opportunity?and responsibility to step up as allies and agents of change. ?? We join feminist movements across the globe in calling for bold actions to prevent and end all forms of gender-based violence. Together, we can create a world rooted in respect, equality, and justice. #EndGBV #16Days #GenderJustice

?? “Make room for genuine conversations. Gender justice isn’t about taking away roles—it’s about lifting everyone up so we can all live beyond limiting stereotypes.” – Henry Mitchel, MenEngage Sri Lanka ?? Sharing from personal experience on #HowToTalkWithMen, Henry explains how in a workshop on value-based leadership he brought young men together to explore how traditional gender norms impact not only relationships but also global challenges like climate change. Through open dialogue, these young men shared their stories—realizing how stereotypes like "real men don’t show emotions" or "caring for the environment is women’s work" hold everyone back. By the end, the young men saw how small actions, like discussing gender equity and supporting women’s leadership, could spark real change in their communities. ??? Want to create meaningful change? Start small. Talk about respect, empathy, and equality—and how breaking outdated roles can improve everyone’s lives. ?? Join us in lifting everyone up. Together, we can reshape norms and create a more inclusive future for all. #GenderJustice #TogetherForEquality #HowToTalkWithMen

?? "There are many ways to be a man—and each is valid." Jeppe Trolle Linnet from DareGender shares an inspiring approach to engaging men in discussions about gender equality and masculinity: ?? Create spaces for genuine expression: Men are often curious about these topics but struggle to find spaces where they feel truly heard. Non-judgmental environments—free of authority, ideologies, or “correct” answers—allow participants to shape the conversation and explore their feelings. ?? Ground rules for respect: In DareGender’s men’s groups, participants focus on sharing personal reflections without commenting on or advising others. This practice encourages self-reflection and fosters empathy. ?? Encouraging self-work: Men learn to prioritize emotional self-awareness and appreciate diverse forms of personal growth—not just those tied to conventional “manly” success. ??? Real impact: One participant shared how the group helped him feel “good enough” and realize that his unique way of being a man is just as valid as others’. These groups offer men a chance to process emotions, practice vulnerability, and celebrate new ways of navigating masculinity. ?? How do you create spaces where men feel safe to explore their inner lives? Join the conversation below. #HowToTalkWithMen #GenderEquality #Masculinity #InclusiveSpaces To learn more about the campaign, visit ?? https://lnkd.in/e484Knqm

?? “Men and boys must be part of the solution for gender equality.” Luke Twesigye from Straight Talk Foundation, part of MenEngage Uganda Network for gender equality, shares his approach on #HowToTalkWithMen (and boys) to foster gender justice: ?? Start with shared values: Building trust by focusing on shared experiences, rather than directly challenging traditional masculinity, encourages openness and empathy. ?? Meet them where they are: From mechanics to fishermen, Luke emphasizes engaging men in their everyday spaces, creating a safe environment for honest discussions. ? Ask the right questions: Open-ended prompts like "How do you think society expects men to behave?" spark reflection and help unpack norms and power dynamics. ? Focus on solutions, not blame: Through empathy and self-reflection, Luke empowers men to see themselves as champions of positive masculinity and gender justice. ?? Impact in action: In Iganga and Bugiri, male parents challenged harmful social norms and formed Male Action Groups to promote gender equality, SRHR advocacy, and inclusive parenting Luke reminds us that meaningful change begins with active listening, shared humanity, and a commitment to leaving no one behind. How do you approach conversations about gender and masculinity? Share your thoughts below. ?? What to be part of this conversation? Check out the toolkit here: https://lnkd.in/e484Knqm #MenEngage #GenderEquality #HowToTalkWithMen #SocialJustice

? Comment parler aux hommes de l'égalité des genres ? ?? "Ce n'est pas en attaquant que ?a marche. Nous sommes tous victimes de bo?tes sociales, et il faut un grand travail pour accepter de changer les normes." – Shaloom Peace, MenEngage DRC Lors d'une session avec des hommes déplacés par la guerre, Shaloom a utilisé une approche participative pour discuter de la notion d’homme positif. Ensemble, ils ont exploré leurs traditions et comparé avec une vision moderne, en gardant en tête ce qu'ils souhaitent pour les générations futures. ?? Ce dialogue a permis de renforcer les capacités des pairs éducateurs et de définir un modèle inspirant pour les communautés. ?? Rejoignez la conversation et découvrez comment transformer les normes avec bienveillance et collaboration. ==== Shaloom Peace met en avant une approche compréhensive pour engager les hommes dans la conversation sur l'égalité des genres. Elle insiste sur l'importance d'éviter une attitude accusatrice et de reconna?tre que chacun est influencé par des normes sociales. Elle partage un exemple de session avec des hommes déplacés par la guerre, où ils ont exploré ensemble la notion d’"homme positif" en tenant compte des traditions et des aspirations pour les générations futures. Cette méthodologie participative a permis de co-construire une vision collective pour encourager des modèles masculins positifs dans leurs communautés. Pour en savoir plus sur la campagne, cliquez ici : https://lnkd.in/exkNHdNH #EgalitéDesGenres #CommentParlerAvecLesHommes #MenEngage #GenderEquality #HowToTalkWithMen

??"When we nurture the bonds that matter the most, transformation is possible"?? Julie Kai Chahine, MenEngage Coordinator at ABAAD MENA, reflects on her inspiring journey with fathers in a rehabilitation center as part of the?#HowToTalkWithMen?campaign. Through open dialogue and guided exercises, these men embraced their roles as fathers and partners, fostering stronger, more connected families. Each small step—experimenting with new behaviors, reflecting on their past, and sharing their experiences—paved the way for true transformation. ? Change is possible, one conversation at a time. ? Learn more: https://lnkd.in/e484Knqm #MenEngage?#FatherhoodMatters?#FamilyTransformation?#HowToTalkWithMen

?? Listening with empathy, embracing accountability, and promoting allyship are powerful ways to foster meaningful growth and positive change. – Urbenia Kgwarae, Former Youth Chairperson, MenEngage Africa For the?#HowToTalkWithMen?campaign, Urbenia Kgwarae shares three essential tips for transformative conversations with men and boys: ?1?? Listen with empathy and openness: Create judgment-free spaces where men feel heard and understood. Simple acknowledgments like "I hear you" or "That sounds challenging" can build trust and openness.? 2?? Embrace accountability as growth: Encourage men to see accountability as strength, not weakness. Support them in owning their mistakes as steps toward becoming their best selves.? 3?? Promote allyship and positive support: Allyship can start small, like calling out harmful jokes or stereotypes with phrases like, "We can do better." These actions inspire others to stand up too. ?? Let’s create spaces where men can embrace the potential of gender justice, for?#WomensRights,?#EndingViolenceAgainstWomen, and for addressing the challenges in their own lives. Join the conversation:?https://lnkd.in/e484Knqm #HowToTalkWithMen?#GenderEquality?#Accountability?#Allyship?#TransformingMasculinities

?? *"It felt like being free."* – A boy reflecting on a Beyond Equality workshop experience For the #HowToTalkWithMen campaign, Tom Hornbrook shares a story about breaking the harmful norms that confine boys:? ?? In a workshop, boys were asked to talk one-on-one about their experiences of being a boy. After just a few minutes, one boy described the conversation as freeing—breaking the rules that say boys can’t share openly or express vulnerability.? ?? Imagine the transformation we could achieve if boys, alongside girls and people of diverse genders, were given more spaces to reflect, discuss, and challenge the norms that pressure them to dominate others. These small steps pave the way to rethinking how we want to be as humans—to each other and for ourselves.? ?? Let’s create those spaces and rewrite the rules, together. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/e484Knqm? #HowToTalkWithMen #GenderEquality #BreakingNorms #MenEngage #TransformingMasculinities

???? Alex Nelson, member of North American MenEngage Network (NAMEN), shares with us #HowToTalkWithMen men for #genderjustice. ?? And to do so "within spaces & contexts that are most familiar to them...that way, these conversations can achieve relevance within the fabric of their daily lives." ?? A personal story that Alex shared on this, "A student once downplayed the reality of #genderinequality in class. I openly confronted him about it in a language that was familiar while making a point about the relevance of gender justice. Since he had recently expressed his frustrations with #racism, I started by validating these experiences. Then, I linked how gender inequality and racism both restrict #humanpotential. Oppressions may differ in form but can also produce overlapping frustrations. I later overheard him mentioning to his friend how my comment made him think differently about these issues. He and I have also had memorable conversations ever since." ?? Let’s learn how to talk with men to inspire real, lasting transformation: https://lnkd.in/e484Knqm #HowToTalkWithMen #GenderEquality #Racism #MenEngage #TransformingMasculinities

?? "Why do we keep indoctrinating kids to become who they are not?" – Jan Reynders For the #HowToTalkWithMen campaign, Jan Reynders reflects on how rigid gender norms shape children from an early age: ?? Boys and girls are often told what they should and should not do, limiting their ability to grow into their true selves. This pressure forces boys to suppress care and emotions and girls to conform to restrictive roles. ?? What if we allowed kids the freedom to choose their path? Many boys would embrace care and nurture, challenging stereotypes, and creating a more equal world. ?? Join us in rethinking how we talk with boys and girls. Together, we can support a future where children grow into who they want to be, not who society expects them to be. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/e484Knqm #HowToTalkWithMen #GenderEquality #BreakTheNorms #TransformingMasculinities #MenEngage