OSCE MenEngage Network discusses involving men and boys as allies in promoting post-conflict transformation

The OSCE MenEngage Network held its second meeting on 7 October 2013 in Vienna, to continue its work on getting men involved as advocates for gender equality across the OSCE Region, gathering ambassadors, military advisers and other diplomats.

The OSCE’s Senior Adviser on Gender Issues, Ambassador Miroslava Beham, emphasised that engaging men in promoting gender equality is an underused tool.

"I believe that including men in activities to eliminate violence against women and to advocate for gender equality is indispensable in advancing progress on these issues. Unfortunately this has been a long neglected strategy.  If we are to end the persistent violence and inequalities that are still present in all of the OSCE participating States then it is crucial to engage men and build positive role models for boys and young men," Beham said.

The OSCE MenEngage Network’s Chair, Lieutenant Colonel Simon Macrory-Tinning from the Permanent Mission of UK to the OSCE, stressed that the network is at a stage where it needs to develop its vision for strategic engagement and think about how its impact can be most significant and meaningful. He said that it has to create actions and projects to further engage men in the OSCE region to become positive role models for boys and young men and advocates for equality and non-discrimination.

Leading activist John Crownover shared his own experiences in engaging youth for post-conflict reconstruction and gender equality in the Balkans. Crownover is currently the Young Men Initiative Program Advisor for CARE International North West Balkans, an international development organization.

“Policy makers often develop new strategies when public pressure demands action, whether on hooliganism, anti-social behavior or sports fan violence. A proactive policy framework that promotes positive masculinities and seeks to engage young men before conflicts develop can deescalate potential violence and compliment policing efforts.  In many countries youth workers are already playing this critical role”, Crownover said.