Regional efforts to engage men and boys on gender equality need to be strengthened, conclude experts at OSCE MenEngage expert meeting

The importance of involving men alongside women to move forward in achieving gender equality was the focus of an OSCE-organized MenEngage expert meeting on 24 November 2017 in Vienna.

The event brought together government representatives, international organizations, civil society representatives and academics from across the OSCE region.

In their welcoming speeches, Michael Linhart, Austria’s Deputy Foreign Minister, and Slovenia’s Ambassador to the OSCE Andrej Benedejčič, also  chair of the OSCE MenEngage Network, underlined that the OSCE is well placed to work on the issues of engaging men in promoting gender equality.

During three interactive sessions and working groups, participants shared good practices on how to involve men in combating violence against women and promoting equal participation of women in all spheres of public life. They developed recommendations on how to further enhance this work and strengthen the existing networks and linkages in the OSCE region, to ensure that they are based on common principles and designed to combat harmful notions of masculinity.

Nikki van der Gaag, Director for Gender Equality at the charity Oxfam Great Britain, stressed that many accomplishments have been reached towards gender equality. But, she noted, “The gender gap persists and in some areas we are moving backwards. We therefore need a new approach, one that involves men as well as women.” 

John Crownover, Youth and Gender Programme Adviser of CARE International Balkans said: “Unfortunately we still live in a culture where gender-based violence takes place on everyday basis. However, social norms change and young people in particular deconstruct the harmful masculinity norms.”

OSCE Senior Gender Adviser Amarsanaa Darisuren concluded that the existing challenge of transforming the traditional norms and stereotypes is continuous and a results-driven approach to combat gender-based violence is needed. “One cannot achieve this goal alone. We need to strengthen the co-operation not only within the OSCE but seek partnerships with governmental and non-governmental sectors as well,” she said.  

For more information on the event please see: www.osce.org/event/menengage-expert-meeting