MenEngage Global:

Background:
The 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) helped set in motion the need to engage boys and men in promoting gender equality. In terms of total violence, whether in domestic settings, in conflict areas or otherwise, it is overwhelmingly men who are the perpetrators of such violence. It is also evident that boys and men are willing to participate in actions to further gender equality by changing traditional and rigid attitudes and behaviours that perpetuate gender inequalities.

As new programs engaging men and boys have been implemented, a body of effective evidence-based programming has emerged. These programs have confirmed that men and boys are willing to participate in discussions related to gender equality, and rethinking masculinities, and that targeted, well-designed interventions can be effective in changing traditional and rigid attitudes and behaviours that perpetuate gender inequalities. The success and importance of these program initiatives has led to a growing interest in adapting this work in settings throughout the world.

What is MenEngage?
MenEngage A Global Alliance to Engage Men and Boys in Gender Equality and Ending Violence. The Alliance is involved in an array of research, interventions, and policy initiatives seeking to engage men and boys in effective ways to reduce gender inequalities and promote health and the well-being of women, men and girls and boys and for promoting caring fatherhood. The alliance includes several major international organizations, as well as local and national groups with extensive experience in engaging men and boys in gender equality and reducing violence. The organizing members of MenEngage include EngenderHealth, Instituto Promundo, Save the Children Sweden, Sahayog, the Family Violence Prevention Fund, and the International Planned Parenthood Federation.

What does MenEngage do?
The goal of MenEngage is to increase the number of men and boys reached by interventions that promote and engage them in gender equality and violence prevention. To achieve this, MenEngage will implement three complementary strategies:

1) Advocacy and policy;
2) A learning and leadership network; and
3) Resource sharing.
Each strategy will be developed through a consultative process with MenEngage members.

MenEngage Pakistan Chapter:

GJTMAP and MenEngage:
The Ministry of Local Government & Rural Development (MoLG&RD), Government of Pakistan (GoP) with support from UNDP and its cost-sharing partners is implementing Gender Justice Through Musalihat Anjuman Project (GJTMAP). It is a novel Project with the goal'to assist women and other vulnerable sections of society in improving their conditions through safeguarding and promoting their rights and lawful entitlements' for petty disputes and other matters, as per Rules of Business (RoBs) notified by Provincial Governments, considering that the institutional safeguards offered by the formal justice sector institutions have not been able to perform their role.

Gender Justice Project is working in partnership with the four Provincial Governments and selected CSOs partners in this area since 2005. One of the Project's objectives is to widen commitment to address gender discrimination and gender based violence by working with all segments of society in 20 selected districts (05 in each Province), particularly boys and men to challenge unequal gender and power relations. GJTMAP offers the greatest opportunity, amongst UNDPs' Gender Support Programme as it focuses directly on service delivery (in the area of access to justice) and provides opportunities for capacity building, awareness raising, linkages and networking.

Being the Secretariat in Pakistan, GJTMAP is following up through the regional consultative meeting on the MenEngage Pakistan Country Plan and seeking commitments of partner organisations and core group members, etc. for the National Alliance building.

As agreed by the MenEngage Pakistan 1st Core Group Meeting, following is its goal:

Long Term:

• To engage men and boys in the efforts for gender equality and ending violence.

Short Term:

• A growing network of UN agencies, NGOs, including Government of Pakistan to prevent gender based violence through active involvement of men and boys.

Pakistan Secretariat:
Hamid Raza Afridi (Focal Person)
National Project Manager,
Federal PMU
2nd Floor, State Life Building No.7, Blue Area Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9202476, 9202480; Fax +92-51-9206598
E-mail: Hamid.afridi@gmail.com, gjtmap@gmail.com
Website: www.gjtmap.gov.pk

Core Group Meetings:

» First MenEngage Pakistan Core Group Meeting Minutes [Photos]

» Second MenEngage Pakistan Core Group Meeting Minutes [Photos]

» Third MenEngage Pakistan Core Group Meeting Minutes [Photos]

» Forth MenEngage Pakistan Core Group Meeting Minutes [Photos]

Who's involved:
Core Group:
GJTMAP (www.gjtmap.gov.pk), UNDP (www.undp.org.pk), FPAP (www.fpapak.org), Sahil (www.sahil.org), Pavhna/Paiman (www.paiman.org), Save the Children - Sweden (www.rb.se), Amal (www.amal-hdn.org)

General Membership:
Aurat Foundation (www.af.org.pk), RSPN (www.rspn.org), SDPI (www.sdpi.org), Sarsabz Foundation (www.sarsabz.org)

Join Now:
» Download Application Form
»Membership criteria as decided in Core Group Meeting dated 17th October 2007

Regional Events:

Regional consultative Meeting of MenEngage in Kathmandu, Nepal - February, 2007

»Minutes of Regional Consultative Meeting

MenEngage Members:

»MenEngage Core Members and General Members List

For further information please visit  www.menengage.org  and   www.aidsportal.org