International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women: Men as Allies

As the world observes International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women this year, there is a growing awareness about the prevalence of gender-based violence. But in-depth perspectives about the role of men in combating violence against women are only just emerging. IREX asked three Community Solutions participants -- Alvin Winford from Liberia, Musa Soko from Sierra Leone, and Nixon Nembaware from Zimbabwe -- to share their views on this topic and why it’s important to them. 

Why are you involved in the fight to end violence against women?

Alvin: An inner voice kept urging me to play a pivotal role in challenging the status quo that would enable women and girls to claim and enjoy their rights. I am blessed with three lively and beautiful daughters.  I must ensure that things are changed for the better, not only for them but for all girls and women.

Musa: I kept experiencing domestic violence as a child right from my family and the entire neighborhood I was raised in. Today, being able to know the complexities surrounding women and the daily struggles they face, I suddenly came to the realization that being a man would also add voice to the silent majority of women in need of help.

Nixon: When I started working for the men’s forum, my sisters moved in with me…to go to college. I realized the meaning of this work [is] creating a safer world for all the women in my life

Why is it important to involve men in this issue?

Alvin: Men campaigning against violence against women serve as [a] catalyst and a driving force in influencing attitudinal change in women[‘s] protection by being examples for other men to follow.

Musa: Oftentimes programs do not have a genuine passion for caring for and supporting men and they do not address the complexity of the issues that contribute to domestic and sexual violence. [M]en should no longer be regarded as the problem [but] as solutions.

Nixon: [I]f you don’t do something to help other men to end violence against women you are, technically speaking, an accomplice.

What are specific techniques you’ve used to engage men in combating violence against women?

Alvin: By motivating men to serve as all[ies]… they serve as peer educators in influencing other men. I have also brought on board traditional men to serve as campaigners against harmful cultural practices. We have also worked with men in serving as co-facilitators and flag bearers in promoting women’s rights. Through these processes, they take ownership and demonstrate responsibility, thereby serving as role models for other men to emulate.

Musa: Too often programs are designed and implemented in ways that focus solely on the reduction of intimate partner violence and the punishment of perpetrators, but they do not address the hurt and pain that men experience as both victims and perpetrators of violence. I feel one of the most important key differences to the “engaging men and boys” approach is that it does not only focus on stopping sexual and gender-based violence, but also focuses on challenging and redefining manhood and norms of masculinity the world over. This focus has been proven to sustain the continuous shifts in attitudes and behaviors.

Nixon: Reaching out to men and challenging each other to reform and change; working with women as allies, creates checks and balances for us and provides men with mentoring figures who are not there to condemn them but to challenge them to a higher standard in life. A “catch them young” approach is one we use in our school-based prevention work…targeting young boys and help[ing] them to adopt more egalitarian ways of expressing their masculinities. We also work with traditional and religious leaders who have substantial influence on the lives of people and are also the custodians of culture and, as such, can help in shaping new attitudes, cultural norms, and approaches.

IREX offers its sincere thanks to Alvin, Musa, and Nixon for sharing such personal and powerful insights on this important issue.