‘Engaging Men and Boys to Help Combat Gender Based Violence’
A forum encouraging men and boys to end violence against women was held today as events take place within the launch of Sixteen Days of Activism. Participants were encouraged to be part of the solution to create safer environments for women and girls. News Five’s Hipolito Novelo reports.
Hipolito Novelo, Reporting
As part of the Sixteen Days of Activism, a men’s forum focusing on gender based violence was held today in Belize City. Organized by the Spouses of CARICOM Leaders Action Network, and held under the theme, ‘Engaging Men and Boys to help combat Gender Based Violence’ the conference brought together men to be part of the discussion.
Kim Simplis Barrow
Kim Simplis Barrow, Spouses of CARICOM Leaders Action Network
“We have a very interesting and diverse panel speaking to the issues of how can we engage our men and boys in addressing in eliminating gender base violence and I think it is an important subject to discuss. We do have men who are committed to combating gender base violence and that is important. It is important because as we move forward in addressing this issue we need our men to work with us.”
UN Consultant and facilitator Shane Joseph says that it is important to understand the root cause of violence.
Shane Joseph
Shane Joseph, UN Consultant
“It is rooted in power and control in society and often times we see the statistics, the empirical data tells us clearly, disproportionately that men are the perpetrators of violence against women. I think today’s event is about bringing men together with an opportunity to share their views and give their narrative as it relates to addressing toxic masculinity, as it relates to addressing the roles that men play in the equation as oppose to just looking victimization and women who are victims of violence.”
And the call has now been made for these men to be agents of change to get the message in the households.
Kim Simplis Barrow
“Our next step from here is that we will be trying to get a group of men who will become strong advocates. It is important because in the room we have men from all over Belize but you are right we are speaking to the converted, some of them are converted but not all of them but the idea is to get men as agents of change and men as advocates, men who will step up and get other men to come on board with us.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Hipolito Novelo.
