Male Involvement

Human rights are the guiding principle of UNIFEM’s work around the world. The projects and strategies UNIFEM supports are aimed at enhancing gender equality and women’s human rights. UNIFEM believes that working with men and sensitizing them to gender issues helps to increase men’s commitment and joint responsibility in achieving an equitable society for all.

One of the major factors that hinder the attainment of human rights for and fundamental freedom of women and girls is violence against women (VAW). It is the single biggest impediment to women’s empowerment. UNIFEM’s work and experience have shown that to successfully end violence against women, it is important to view men not only as perpetrators of violence, but also as part of the solution. The cycle of violence — a cycle that has been passed down from generation to generation — can be broken only if women and men work in partnership to change the societal structures and values that perpetuate violence against women.

UNIFEM supports efforts to involve men actively and positively in finding solutions to this scourge. In partnership with Zonta International, UNIFEM’s South Asia Regional Office recently undertook a pilot initiative to explore the interplay between masculinity, gender and violence in India. The research was accompanied by a visual companion in the form of a photo essay. The Men & Masculinities Exhibition was meant to raise awareness and help disseminate the research, and we are pleased to share in this space a printed version of the exhibition.

Download
A Snapshot of the Men & Masculinities Exhibition
(PDF, 2.32MB)

Also available:
From Violence to Supportive Practices: Family, Gender and Masculinities in India (PDF, 1.1MB), the book based on the research project.

For more information on the project, please contact the UNIFEM South Asia Regional Office.