Men as ‘part of the solution’ to gender equality

Men have to be seen as part of the solution to gender equality, and not only a part of the problem, says Iceland’s Ambassador to the OSCE, Auðunn Atlason, the new Chair of the OSCE MenEngage Network. The Network brings together OSCE male ambassadors and other senior diplomats who want to work on raising awareness of the important role men can have in ending gender-based violence and promoting gender equality.

Gender equality is not only fair and just but it is also beneficial, contributing to peace and stability as well as being a basis for social development and prosperity, says Ambassador Atlason, who took up the position of Chair of the OSCE MenEngage Network on 21 May 2015.

Read or listen to our interview with Ambassador Atlason as he explains the work of the OSCE MenEngage Network and how it can contribute to global efforts in making gender equality a reality.

Ambassador Atlason, why should we involve men in promoting gender equality?

There are various reasons for that, in my opinion.

First of all, I think it is because the basic fact is that equal rights and gender equality are part of our human rights. You only have to look at newborn babies – boys and girls in cradles - to realize that they must be treated equally in their later life. We are equally innocent when we are born and we should have the same rights when we grow up. I am a father myself of both boys and girls, and it is for me on a personal note simply unimaginable to think that they will somehow be discriminated against later in life. Or that my daughters may suffer from violence or ill treatment just because of their gender.

And that brings me to my second point - we still have a very long way to go in terms of gender equality. And this is why it is important that men become part of the solution and not only part of the problem. Here we have in fact made much progress in recent years, but we need to do more.

The third point is that gender equality is not only fair and just, it is also beneficial. And not only for women of course, it is beneficial for men as well and society at large. So you could basically say that gender equality is good business – in the sense that it contributes to peace and stability and is the basis for social development and prosperity.

So, to make a long story short, this is why men should join women and we should work together in enhancing gender equality.

What is the OSCE MenEngage Network?

We are part of the global MenEngage Network which brings together UN organizations and NGOs around the world. There are regional chapters, so to speak, and the OSCE started its network as part of this global initiative three years ago. First the UK was in the lead, later Sweden, and now it is Iceland.

The aim of MenEngage is to bring men and boys better into the debate and the decision- making on gender equality. And this we do through different channels, by sharing best practices etc. Here at the OSCE, for the last three years, there has been a solid group of men in different permanent missions and in the Secretariat who have met regularly to become engaged in gender issues. I look forward to working with them.

How can the OSCE MenEngage Network work to make gender equality a reality?

I see my role as threefold. First, I it is my role and that of all of my male colleagues, to be a voice and contribute to the discussion on gender issues.

Secondly, to raise awareness within the OSCE region, for instance, by organizing events and sharing best practices.

And third, and perhaps most importantly, to engage other men, to bring more people and more men to the table and to debate this issue and to work on gender issues.

Dialogue is of course important, but words must also be followed up with actions. Here, the OSCE must lead by example, and I am thinking about issues like the Gender Action Plan, the Ministerial Council decisions on violence against women etc. where we must simply deliver.

What do you see as the biggest challenge to gender equality and how do we overcome this challenge?

Yes, this is a tough question by the way.

Challenges are various and numerous and they differ probably depending on regions and countries around the world. In our part of the world, in Europe and the OSCE area, I think we have come a long way, we have done good work. But still I believe that gender issues should avoid becoming too event-driven or campaign-driven. But the risk is that when there is a photo opportunity we are interested and then we forget about the issue in between. The real challenge is to integrate gender issues into everything we do and I think we are on the way to do that.

Secondly, I think there is a risk of a certain backlash or tiredness towards gender issues, if I may be blunt. When my good female colleagues in the OSCE raise their voice on gender issues, there is certain tiredness in the group – “Oh, they start talking about gender issues again!” This is a serious risk and which we must avoid. There also seems to be a serious risk of a backlash in certain countries - there are political elements and voices in society which are not very favorable towards gender issues or gender equality. We must also not ignore that. The debate must go on, intellectually and politically.

On a more positive note, I think our challenge is also to continue to explain the benefits and the advantages of gender equality, because the case is so strong. If we manage to do that, I think this will take us the whole way.