Human Rights Council holds panel discussion on accelerating efforts to eliminate violence against women

MORNING

GENEVA (13 June 2017) - The Human Rights Council this morning began its annual full-day discussion on the human rights of women with a panel discussion on accelerating efforts to eliminate violence against women by engaging men and boys in preventing and responding to violence against women and girls.
 
Kate Gilmore, United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Karen Ellemann, Minister for Equal Opportunities and Nordic Cooperation of Denmark, made keynote statements.
 
The moderator of the discussion was Lana Wells, Brenda Strafford Chair in the Prevention of Domestic Violence, University of Calgary in Canada.  The panellists were Dubravka Simonovic, Special Rapporteur on violence against women; Anthony Keedi, Masculinities Technical Adviser at the ABAAD Resource Centre for Gender Equality from Lebanon; Francis Oko Armah, Youth Activist at Curious Minds from Ghana; and Abhijit Das, Co-Chair of MenEngage Alliance and Founder of Men’s Action for Stopping Violence against Women from India.
 
Joaquín Alexander Maza Martelli, President of the Human Rights Council, said the annual full-day discussion on the human rights of women was being convened pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 6/30.  Today’s first panel would focus on the theme “Accelerating efforts to eliminate violence against women: engaging men and boys in preventing and responding to violence against women and girls”. 
 
Kate Gilmore, United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, said that gender-based violence against women and girls was the most widespread of human rights abuses.  One third of all women and girls would experience violence at some point in their lifetime, and in certain places, at certain times and under certain conditions, those rates escalated, for example in fragile settings and in the context of conflict and crises.  Ensuring access to justice and services for victims was fundamental to breaking the cycle of violence and enabling women and girls to claim their rights in all domains.
 
Karen Ellemann, Minister for Equal Opportunities and Nordic Cooperation of Denmark, reminded that violence against women was pervasive and harmful in all its forms, and that it could not be eliminated if half the world’s population was excluded.  Engaging men and boys meant sensitizing them to realize the consequences of violence, whether it was their own actions or the actions of others.  Each and every one needed to dig deep to address the inherent biases, which had been carried over from generation to generation.  
 
Lana Wells, Panel Moderator and Brenda Stafford Chair in the Prevention of Domestic Violence, University of Calgary in Canada, said that the engagement of men and boys as social change agents and violence preventers was the new narrative.  The panel would discuss, among other issues, how governments and their education systems could commit to a human rights approach that built skills that reinforced gender equality, and how stakeholders could work in areas where men naturally congregated, such as workplaces, to leverage settings and promote healthy relationships and healthy masculinities.
 
Dubravka Simonovic, Special Rapporteur on violence against women, noted that the historical transformation toward gender equality had begun a long time ago, and that it was fully anchored in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.  She cautioned that there was a limit to the role that men and boys could play.  International instruments addressed States, and there was a need to tackle discriminatory laws that were still on the books in several countries.
 
Abhijit Das, Co-Chair of MenEngage Alliance and Founder of Men’s Action for Stopping Violence against Women from India, said that in order to address violence against women, it was important to understand “masculinities” and the social process that created men the way they were.  In India, men were brought up with a sense of social entitlement depending upon their social situation.  Through active campaigns led across Indian states, MenEngage Alliance managed to change their relationship from one of protection and discipline and anxiety over the loss of honour to one of caring and affection.
 
Francis Oko Armah, Youth Activist at Curious Minds from Ghana, noted that one of the root causes of violence against women was that boys were taught to be tough and not to show emotions because women were the weak ones.  Nevertheless, women, too, bore responsibility as some of them thought that more violent men were more masculine.  Thus, women also had to play a role in reversing gender roles and stereotypes.    
 
Anthony Keedi, Masculinities Technical Adviser at the ABAAD Resource Centre for Gender Equality from Lebanon, underlined that boys in war saw men wielding violent power.  Men surrounded by that reality learned dominance and that it was their right to take up whatever space they could take.  The problem was not men, but what they were taught about what it meant to be a man.  Young men in war zones could be taught to become agents of change and peace, and agents of gender equality.
 
In the ensuing discussion, speakers underlined that the quality of relationships between men and women in large part determined the quality of men’s lives as they were also affected by gender inequality.  Prevention of violence against women could be strengthened through gender socialization and by challenging harmful cultural norms.  It was critical that communities increased men’s involvement in gender equality and reducing violence through the use of male influencers and role models.  They had to challenge rigid gender norms that impeded the advance of all people.  The 2030 Development Agenda presented an opportunity to empower women effectively to participate in economic life and public affairs.  Some speakers noted that fighting discrimination against women had to be conducted in a way that respected countries’ cultural context.  
 
Speaking in the discussion were United Kingdom, Australia, European Union, Bahamas on behalf of the Caribbean Community, Brazil on behalf of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries, Norway on behalf of the Nordic and Baltic States, Slovenia also on behalf of Austria, Liechtenstein and Switzerland, El Salvador on behalf of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, Canada also on behalf of Australia and New Zealand, Egypt on behalf of the Arab Group, Tunisia on behalf of the African Group, United States, Venezuela, Italy, Egypt, India, Germany, Sierra Leone, El Salvador, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Sao Tome and Principe, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Israel, Senegal, and Dominica.
 
Also taking the floor were the following civil society organizations: Plan International, International Commission of Jurists, United Nations Watch, Make Mothers Matter, Conseil International pour le soutien à des procès équitables et aux Droits de l’Homme, Swedish Association for Sexuality Education, and World Young Women’s Christiaan Association. 
 
At noon the Council will continue its interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression.  It will then hear the presentation of thematic reports by the Secretary-General and the High Commissioner for Human Rights, followed by a general debate on the promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development.  At 3 p.m., the second part of the annual full-day discussion on the human rights of women will be held with a panel discussion on women's rights and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: health and gender equality. 
 
Opening Statement
 
JOAQUÍN ALEXANDER MAZA MARTELLI, President of the Human Rights Council, said the annual full-day discussion on the human rights of women was being convened pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 6/30.  Today’s first panel would focus on the theme “Accelerating efforts to eliminate violence against women: engaging men and boys in preventing and responding to violence against women and girls”.  He introduced the speakers.
 
Keynote Statements
 
KATE GILMORE, United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, said that gender-based violence against women and girls was the most widespread of human rights abuses.  One third of all women and girls would experience violence at some point in their lifetime, and in certain places, at certain times and under certain conditions, those rates escalated, for example in fragile settings and in the context of conflict and crises.  Violence against women had direct and indirect physical and health consequences for its victims, these acts were more than just altercations, they were also expressions of power and a source of fear in the lives of women and girls the world over.  The looming threat of violence, be it at the hands of the family, a partner, a soldier or a stranger in the street, drove a climate of fear and intimidation that many women and girls found dictated the way they lived their lives.  The fear of violence also influenced their ability to make their own choices with regard to marriage, education and employment, or to participate in public life. 
 
International conventions and other instruments guaranteed the right to equal enjoyment of rights.  And yet, this equality could not exist or be achieved in half of the population’s lives.  Violence against women and girls was a manifestation of discriminatory gender norms that tended to legitimate the control of men against women.  Any common practice that would threaten the mental and physical integrity of a human being was a system of violations that countries could not accept anymore.  Reaching adulthood could not require the mutilation of a girl.  A marriage could not rely on the sole sexual consent of men.  It was possible to prevent gender-based violence and uphold the human rights of all people if concerted efforts were carried out to dismantle and transform these harmful social norms.  Particularly, child early marriage, female mutilation and rape must be eradicated.  It was essential to get out of the gender boxes since masculinity and feminity were not the primary state of the lives of human beings.  Humanism was the primary state.   Any identity that was based on oppressing the other restricted human potential.  Access to justice was also highly important since impunity prevented effective inclusion.  Finally, ensuring access to justice and services for victims was fundamental to breaking the cycle of violence and enabling women and girls to claim their rights in all domains.
 
KAREN ELLEMANN, Minister for Equal Opportunities and Nordic Cooperation of Denmark, reminded that preventing, addressing and responding to human rights violations were core obligations of States.  Violence against women and girls, whether physical or psychological, was a violation of their human rights.  Such violence was pervasive and harmful in all its forms, and it could not be eliminated if half the world’s population was excluded.  It went without saying that engaging men and boys meant sensitizing them to realize the consequences of violence, whether it was their own actions or the actions of others.  It also meant that the stereotypes, the negative patriarchal and masculinity notions, and the harmful social norms would not perish if women and girls were not joined by men and boys, the other half of the world’s population.  Violence against women continued to be a problem in Denmark, despite numerous action plans and comprehensive efforts within health care, social services and the justice sector.  However, there was a decline in the number of victims due to awareness raising.  There were information events at schools about domestic violence and dating violence and annual school competitions on countering dating violence in order to promote discussions about gender roles, violence and respect between girls and boys.  Denmark had also established a treatment centre for perpetrators and their families in order to break the cycle of violence through counselling.  Each and every one needed to dig deep to address the inherent biases, which had been carried over from generation to generation.  Each and every one had an individual responsibility, Ms. Ellemann concluded.  
 
Statements by the Panel Moderator and the Panellists
 
LANA WELLS, Panel Moderator and Brenda Stafford Chair in the Prevention of Domestic Violence, University of Calgary, Canada, said the Council would be hearing from four experienced leaders exploring the best and most promising policies and practices that made the connection between gender equality and equity, healthy masculinities and gender norms, and the importance of building and promoting gender equitable relationships.  Panellists would be unpacking concepts like what it meant to be a man, and the structural system that valued the masculine over the feminine in virtually every sphere.  The engagement of men and boys as social change agents and violence preventers was the new narrative.  Some concepts she alerted the Council to be listening for during the day included how governments and their education systems could commit to a human rights approach that built skills that reinforced gender equality.  Other areas included how stakeholders could work in areas where men naturally congregated to leverage settings such as workplaces to promote healthy relationships and healthy masculinities.  Turning the panel over to Ms. Simonovic, she asked her to share some strategies that had successfully contributed to achieving gender equality, and to share with listeners how it might be possible to address gender and harmful stereotypes and norms.
 
DUBRAVKA SIMONOVIC, Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes, and consequences, said she would be addressing the Council in her role as Special Rapporteur, and began with a query on what violence against women was rooted in.  The historical transformation toward gender equality had begun a long time ago, and was fully anchored in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.  Other international instruments also addressed the importance of the empowerment of women, such as the Sustainable Development Goals.  Regional instruments provided even more guidance, such as the Istanbul Convention.  Her own mandate had the possibility to go to different countries and gain specific experience on eliminating violence against women.  Noting that she was often asked for examples of good practices, she said she had recently completed a trip to Argentina, where she had met with civil society.  During her visit to South Africa, she had met with non-governmental organizations taking actions to prevent domestic and sexual violence, and reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS.  But there was a limit to the role that men and boys could play.  International instruments addressed States, and there was a need to tackle discriminatory laws that were still on the books in several countries.
 
ABHIJIT DAS, Co-Chair of MenEngage Alliance and Founder of Men’s Action for Stopping Violence against Women, India, highlighted that it was necessary to clarify why there was a need to talk about men and boys when women and girls were facing the problem?  A simplistic response would be that men and boys were the reason behind the problem.  However, not all men and boys were violent, and it should be noted that male violence was embedded in a broader gender discriminatory social framework called patriarchy.  Mr Abhijit said that, in order to address violence against women it was important to understand “masculinities” and the social process that created men the way they were. 
 
In India, gender was not the only dimension of social inequality.  There were a range of inequalities based on economy, caste or social class.  All these dimensions had violence embedded in them.  Thus, men were brought up with a sense of social entitlement depending upon their social situation.  It was important to understand the existing social “scripts” and practices which created those multiple kinds of “masculinities”.  Through active campaigns led across Indian states, MenEngage Alliance managed to change their relationship from one of protection and discipline and anxiety over the loss of honour to one of caring and affection.  This allowed men to share and participate in women’s expectations in the public realm.  Gender relations were no longer oppositional or competitive but collaborative.  It was important to prevent men from getting into paternalistic modes, becoming benefactors rather than true partners in equality.  One of the findings of the work and studies carried by MenEngage Alliance was that men could relinquish control in the external sphere and at the same time participate in the domestic sphere, taking many household and childcare responsibilities. 
 
LANA WELLS, Brenda Strafford Chair in the Prevention of Domestic Violence, University of Calgary in Canada, asked the panellist to share his experience of engaging young people, both boys and girls, through collaboration with community and religious leaders, media actors, schools and education programmes.
 
FRANCIS OKO ARMAH, Youth Activist at Curious Minds from Ghana, explained that boys and men had their own beliefs and views, formed by culture and upbringing, which influenced their outlook on women.  On the ground level his organization engaged women and men in discussions in order to foster an understanding that they were not enemies.  One of the root causes of violence against women was that boys were taught to be tough and not to show emotions because women were the weak ones.  That was one of the main conclusions that came out of the.  Masculinity norms dictated that boys should be tough and not show emotions.  In such a setting, getting justice was difficult for girls who had experienced violence because the family of the perpetrator did not condemn gender-based violence or think that the perpetrator deserved punishment.  There were also some women who thought that more violent men were more masculine.  Thus, women also had to play a role in reversing gender roles and stereotypes. 
 
LANA WELLS, Panel Moderator and Brenda Strafford Chair in the Prevention of Domestic Violence, University of Calgary, Canada, said that in conflict-affected and insecure environments, the likelihood of violence against women and girls was higher, asking the next speaker how his work on positive masculinity in conflict-affected countries contributed to protecting women from violence.
 
ANTHONY KEEDI, Masculinities Technical Adviser, ABAAD Resource Centre for Gender Equality, Lebanon, asked rhetorically what boys saw during war, before answering that they saw men wielding violent power.  Men surrounded by that reality learned dominance and that it was their right to take up whatever space they could take.  The problem was not men, but what they were taught about what it meant to be a man.  The negative cycle was repeating itself.  His group worked, among other actions, with support groups helping men explore emotions.  One-on-one therapy aimed at rehabilitating men, and national campaigns in the media aimed at letting them know that men had the responsibility to pass on the message to other men, and to women.  Young men’s value went far beyond just providing for a family or just showing strength.  His region was at a “very critical and often scary” moment in time, he said, but violence was not inherent and it was not inherent in men.  It was learned behaviour.  Young men in war zones could be taught to become agents of change and peace, and agents of gender equality.
 
Discussion
 
United Kingdom recalled that engaging with the widest range of stakeholders, women and men, boys and girls, was key to reach gender equality.  Globally, one in three women were beaten or sexually abused in their lifetime.  There was a need to do more to tackle violence against women and girls in all settings.  Australia stated that violence against women and girls was unacceptable, anywhere, anytime.  It was the world’s collective shame that no country was free from it.  Key actions included increasing men’s involvement in gender equality and reducing violence, including by engaging men as fathers.  European Union said that gender equality was not “a women’s concern” but the responsibility of all individuals and of the society as a whole and required active contribution from both women and girls, and men and boys.  Bahamas, speaking on behalf of the Caribbean Community, noted that efforts to ensure the full inclusion and empowerment of women must not be at the exclusion of men and boys, who were both key agents for change and rights bearers themselves.  Constructing healthy masculinity through positive role models would be key in eradicating inequalities. 
 
Portugal, speaking on behalf of a group of countries, said they were committed to eradicate all forms of violence and abuse based on gender.  Involving men and boys was key to provide an effective response to gender inequality.  Men and boys needed to be encouraged to act at individual and institutional levels.  There was also an urgent need to provide equal payment for equal work.  Norway, speaking on behalf of the Nordic and Baltic States, said that effective gender equality policies rested on the understanding that changing women’s roles and empowering women also meant changing men and boys’ roles and empowering them in a new way.  Men who were taking paternity leaves would gain from a closer relationship with their children.
 
Slovenia, speaking also on behalf of Austria, Liechtenstein and Switzerland, noted that they had been promoting the active involvement of men and boys in gender equality efforts both nationally and internationally.  They stressed that challenging gender stereotypes about femininity and masculinity was very important.   El Salvador, speaking on behalf of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, stressed their commitment to gender equality and eradicating all forms of violence and discrimination against women in both private and public spheres.  They highlighted the need for the adoption of comprehensive policies to that end.  Canada, speaking also on behalf of Australia and New Zealand, underlined that it was critical that communities increased men’s involvement in gender equality and reducing violence through the use of male influencers and role models.  They had to challenge rigid gender norms that impeded the advance of all people. 
 
Egypt, speaking on behalf of the Arab Group, stated that the 2030 Development Agenda presented an opportunity to empower women effectively to participate in economic life and public affairs.  Fighting discrimination against women was the responsibility of States, civil society and the international community.  However, it was also important to respect countries’ cultural context in that struggle.  Tunisia, speaking on behalf of the African Group, reiterated the Group’s strong commitment to zero tolerance for violence against women and girls, including discriminatory gender stereotypes.  Violence against women was deeply rooted in systemic gender inequality linked with harmful cultural practices.  United States noted that changing harmful gender attitudes and behaviours was necessarily a long-term endeavour.  Its gender strategy called for engaging men and boys as allies, agents of change, partners and role models, especially in post-conflict situations. 
 
Plan International, Inc., in a joint statement with, Terre Des Hommes Federation Internationale, Foundation ECPAT International (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking in Children for Sexual Purposes), and Defence for Children International, said breaking the cycle required changing norms, and meaningfully engaging men and boys had benefits for men and women.  It was critical to work with boys and girls from early childhood, and States were urged to ensure that curricula were gender-transformative.  International Commission of Jurists said violence against women was rooted in gender stereotypes that were harmful to everyone, expressing concern at women’s access to justice for gender-based violence.  The panellists were asked what role men and boys had in ensuring that perpetrators were held accountable for their actions.  United Nations Watch said engagement was the answer, but in a number of cases, the Council’s experts were not attempting to visit countries where violence against women was reinforced by the State in its laws and practices.  The panellists were asked what could be done to increase the scrutiny and protection for the victims who needed it most. 
 
Responses from the Panel
 
LANA WELLS, Panel Moderator and Brenda Strafford Chair in the Prevention of Domestic Violence, University of Calgary, Canada, recapitulated some of the questions asked, including how men could be better engaged, what the greatest challenges were to their work in that area, how the panellists’ work took into account the learning of feminist organizations, what “gender transformative programmes” actually meant, and how perpetrators could be held accountable.
 
DUBRAVKA SIMONOVIC, Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, said there were systemic problems that needed to be addressed by States.  It was States responsibility to eliminate violence against women, she said, noting the importance of engaging parliamentarians who were responsible for discriminatory laws.  The structural problems were there, so the transformation that led to gender equality had different layers, one of them was State responsibility and another was men within the power structure.  The question on why the Special Rapporteur did not go to certain countries was a challenge for all those present. 
 
ABHIJIT DAS, Co-Chair of MenEngage Alliance and Founder of Men’s Action for Stopping Violence against Women, India, stated that, although challenges remained high in effectively addressing violence against women and inequality in gender relations, these goals could not be achieved through naming and shaming.  It was essential to seek ways to engage men in dealing with such issues and create incentives for a change in the norm of patriarchy.  Such transformation would also bring a profound change in the social norm of impunity for men committing violence.  A new social norm of equality needed to be created.  It was also important to invest in changing leadership models, ensuring that new leaders would become ambassadors of egalitarian values. 
 
LANA WELLS, Brenda Strafford Chair in the Prevention of Domestic Violence, University of Calgary in Canada, asked the panellist about his experience in overcoming barriers in work.
 
FRANCIS OKO ARMAH, Youth Activist at Curious Minds from Ghana, explained that the State Education Institution in Ghana had different views on sexuality education.  His organization, thus, needed municipal assemblies’ permission to hold discussions on that subject.  It was very important to engage children from the very beginning in discussions about gender roles and sexuality education at the community level.  The challenge was to establish a national strategy on sexuality education and make it children-friendly.  A success in his organization’s work was using the media to campaign against child marriage and violence against women and girls.  
 
LANA WELLS, Brenda Strafford Chair in the Prevention of Domestic Violence, University of Calgary in Canada, asked about advocacy efforts on the ground and what efforts were making a difference.
 
ANTHONY KEEDI, Masculinities Technical Adviser at the ABAAD Resource Centre for Gender Equality from Lebanon, said that the main work was questioning the patriarchal norms on gender.  Often after discussions with young men, they would see positive changes and the young men said they would like true partnership with women, but then they noted that something about it “felt wrong”.  That was due to centuries and centuries of understanding of what being a man meant.  A lot of the work on the ground was very personal and also interlinked with the political sphere.  Working with women’s organizations was essential and men needed to support women in power and leadership.  The gender issue did not stop at gender itself; it also involved work on tolerance and peace, and working with perpetrators of violence. 
 
LANA WELLS, Panel Moderator and Brenda Strafford Chair in the Prevention of Domestic Violence, University of Calgary, Canada, asked for the Danish perspective on comments and questions which had been asked by delegations and other speakers.
 
KAREN ELLEMANN, Minister for Equal Opportunities and Nordic Cooperation of Denmark, said the language of violence was not something people were born with but something  they were taught.  Having clear legislation around that was one aspect of the Danish approach, another was focused on childcare facilities, and ensuring parents could be part of the labour market.  Those childcare systems were not only taken care of by women, both men and women were pedagogues, and the same applied in schools.  Regarding the question on parliamentarians, she noted that the Inter-Parliamentary Union was focused on that question as well.
 
Discussion
 
Venezuela said violence against women was rooted in unequal relations, and said there needed to be a change in relations and to mainstream the gender perspective in daily life.  Italy said the elimination of violence against women and girls was a top priority for the country, and it was key that men and boys recognized their responsibility to eradicate the problem.  The panellists were asked if education should start in primary schools, and to detail good practices on that.  Egypt said women’s representation was key to their independence, and violence against women humiliated their dignity.  It was vital that deterrent measures were set up with all components of society, and men needed to be made aware that women’s empowerment was in the interest of society as a whole. 
 
Spain stated that the engagement of men in seeking effective responses to address violence against women was crucial.  Gender based violence was underpinned by unequal social norms.  State education policies had a key role to play in changing discriminatory attitudes.  India outlined that violence against women was one of the most pervasive forms of abuse of human rights.  An amendment to the Indian criminal law in 2013 significantly broadened the definition of sexual assault, increased penalties for offenders and aimed for greater accountability of public officials in providing relief to women affected by violence.  Germany outlined that gender stereotypes and gender-based role models that were constricting women, also negatively affected men.  Such stereotypes were too often the underlying causes of sexual violence against women.  To address this, there was a need to raise awareness among men. 
 
Sierra Leone focused on a project called the Fambul Initiative Network that trained volunteer educators to teach men about the harmful effects of rape, gender based violence and teenage pregnancy.  Such training should foster a significant change in attitudes in the country.  El Salvador recalled that preventing violence against women required intersectional solutions since it was the responsibility of everyone.  Conscience raising campaigns were led both in the public and private sectors in order to sensitize every citizen, woman and man.  Malaysia said that activism among men and boys in fighting violence against women was still low and needed to be fostered.  Malaysia asked the speakers and panellists to elaborate on the links between the sexual objectification of women in the media and violence against women. 
 
Bangladesh noted that the quality of relationships between men and women in large part determined the quality of men’s lives as they were also affected by gender inequality.  The prevention of violence against women could be strengthened through gender socialization and by challenging harmful cultural norms.  Sao Tome and Principe reminded that for years the role of women had been defined as mothers and wives.  It had taken institutional and legislative measures to improve the performance of institutions that worked on violence against women.  Bosnia and Herzegovina noted that the inclusion of men and boys in combatting gender-based violence had been recognized as one of the main pillars of prevention and protection.  Its Gender Action Plan 2013-2017 foresaw the inclusion of men in the fight for gender equality and treated them as key allies. 
 
Israel stated that its educational system placed emphasis on gender equality.  Based on the understanding that domestic violence had a negative effect on the family, the authorities had taken action to rehabilitate victims and perpetrators.  Senegal said it was at the vanguard of combatting violence against women, having bolstered its criminal legislation, which punished female genital mutilation, rape, incest and sexual harassment.  It also had a range of mechanisms to ensure the economic empowerment of women and their education.  Dominica said it had made significant strides in the eradication of violence against women, due to recent legislative changes and the emergence of women’s organizations.  The education of men and boys, in cooperation with communities and church leaders, was key in preventing such violence. 
 
Make Mothers Matter said sharing care of children positively impacted men, women and children in various ways, reducing the intergenerational transmission of violence and transforming gender role stereotypes for future generations.  Unpaid family work was everyone’s concern, and lifelong patterns of caregiving should be fostered.  Conseil International pour le soutien à des procès équitables et aux Droits de l’Homme said laws needed to be improved according to international human rights standards.  In Palestine, Syria, Yemen, and many other countries, including in Saudi Arabia, women were victims of discrimination due to the oppression of the Wahhabis.  In Manchester and at Iranian sites, terrorism targeted women. 
 
Swedish Association for Sexuality Education, on behalf of the Youth Harvest Foundation Ghana, said boys were made vulnerable due to rigid norms associated with manhood, but evidence showed that younger generations of men were more likely to view women as equals compared with men of their fathers’ generation.  World Young Women’s Christian Association called on States to ratify and implement the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women in all countries and to support the efforts of civil society organizations in identifying gaps and opportunities for engaging men and boys in the prevention and response to violence against women and girls.  
 
Concluding Remarks
 
LANA WELLS, Brenda Strafford Chair in the Prevention of Domestic Violence, University of Calgary in Canada, highlighted several questions posed by State delegations and civil society organizations during the discussion and invited the panellists to provide their concluding remarks.
 
DUBRAVKA SIMONOVIC, Special Rapporteur on violence against women, reminded that international treaties asked for the removal of gender stereotypes from school curricula.   It was important to look at early age and all those stereotypes that influenced the development of young boys and girls.  As for statistical data, they were extremely important because they could show the prevalence of violence against women and girls.  During her country visits, some officials said they had no shelters for women and girls because they claimed there was no violence against women.  As for the question on international treaties’ offering a roadmap for addressing violence against women, there was a joint call to all States to implement those treaties and to start with the full incorporation of norms at the national level, and with collecting relevant data.  
 
ABHIJIT DAS, Co-Chair of MenEngage Alliance and Founder of Men’s Action for Stopping Violence against Women from India, welcomed hearing about diverse experiences during the discussion, stressing the importance of collecting relevant data on violence and its manifestations.  There should not be reliance on public health methodology only, because that methodology was reduced to common solutions.  There was a need to understand the local context very well.  For example, in India there were existing egalitarian traditions.  The ideology of egalitarianism was not a discovery of the twenty-first century.  Furthermore, he stressed that without the full empowerment of women, there could not be empowerment of men.  Had all countries ensured women’s right to maternity leave?  There were no common solutions, but there should be common principles on gender equality.  There should be an understanding that women’s equality benefitted men.  Men should not understand empowerment of women as a losing game, Mr. Das concluded.
 
FRANCIS OKO ARMAH, Youth Activist, Curious Minds, Ghana spoke about action at the community level, saying that if men and boys were being taught what it meant to be a boy, that could be reflected in schools.  Regarding the sexual objectification of women in the media, he said it had an implication on how boys and men saw women, but asked why positive stories were not being seen.  Another question had been asked on how women could be targeted in political campaigns.  Mr. Oko Armah said that in Ghana, once politicians got into office, their commitment lessened, and civil society had to pick up the slack. 
 
ANTHONY KEEDI, Masculinities Technical Adviser, ABAAD Resource Centre for Gender Equality, Lebanon, addressed the issue of education, saying many were becoming highly educated without developing any gender awareness.  On the role of the State, he said much work based itself on people looking inside themselves, and if the State had privileges, they should consider what they could do for other States. 
 
LANA WELLS, Panel Moderator and Brenda Strafford Chair in the Prevention of Domestic Violence, University of Calgary, Canada, said in her own concluding remarks that the international community needed to use the instruments it had and needed to work with men and boys as violence preventers.  The areas where men and boys congregated needed to be leveraged to accelerate change. 
 
JOAQUIN ALEXANDER MAZA MARTELLI, President of the Human Rights Council, thanked the moderators and panellists for their contributions.

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