The reality of femicides around the world and the multiple other forms of violence suffered by women and girls is a serious concern and a call to action for all institutions and individuals. Men have a very important place in the commitment and responsibility to be aware of the need to reflect on ourselves as gendered beings, socialised through traditional education, in a patriarchal and macho society, which has made us mistakenly believe that we are superior and that we have power over women, over other men, over the environment and in general over everything. But we should not deceive ourselves into believing that we are men by nature and therefore cannot change. All men, at some point in their lives, should ask themselves and try to understand the process of "becoming a man", analysing themselves as social beings, and not as only being influenced by nature. Looking in the mirror allows us to consider other political views that result in men taking leadership in addressing the inequalities between men and women.
Ensuring men think more about our role in society, does not imply denying the fact that we have been more privileged, and will allow us to understand that this place of privilege also has nuances. Thus, the issue becomes more complex and we must discover dynamics that until now have not been contemplated, and promote new strategies, policies, and practices that generate the transformation of inequality. We men must continue the work of empowering women and girls, addressing violence and promoting its eradication ensuring men are involved in this process, committing to the transformation of power relations between men and women, for the overall well-being of society.
We can no longer deny the place of men, and their role in the transformation towards a more egalitarian, just and harmonious society.
Those who today occupy a leadership position, decision-makers and politicians, among others, must assume their role in ensuring that public gender policies are built from a relational perspective, starting from the real recognition of the roles of women and men in society. We can no longer deny the place of men, and their role in the transformation towards a more egalitarian, just and harmonious society. It is the responsibility for what men must do, so that all violence against women and girls is eradicated, as well as all violence against themselves, towards other men and towards the environment. We cannot, as men, continue to ignore and thereby nullify our role as actors of real change.
I am sure that without men taking charge of our role, very little will change. That is the challenge.
Read the full report: Joining Forces for Gender Equality
