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GBV and HIV: Involving men
Njoki Wainaina,FEMNET
Circa January 2004

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In three decades of activism for gender equality and women's rights, I have worked with many men who support the struggle for gender equality. Many of them are found in unlikely places-in communities that considered backward, conservative and patriarchal. But community leaders are quick to observe and acknowledge the need for change. For many have witnessed transitions in their communities and will support initiatives to address identified problems in these communities. On the other hand, community leaders can be keepers of negative cultural and religious practices. They have to be sensitised and involved. Recently, I was on assignment in Somaliland. I was amazed at how much community level support there is in tackling gender equality. Africa's economic crisis has impacted men's role as providers for their families and, in many cases, this has shifted responsibilities to women. This upheaval has created opportunities for discussing gender relations with male leaders at the community level.

In several African countries, faith-based organisations have taken the lead in men for gender equality initiatives, responding to GBV and HIV/AIDS, substance abuse and indiscipline. The impact of HIV/AIDS has grown to such proportions that religious leaders can no longer ignore it. HIV/AIDS is now discussed from the pulpit and many men's and boys' forums have been created. Counselling programmes for men infected or affected by HIV/AIDS are increasing. And faith-based organisations are emerging as leaders in the mobilisation and involvement of men. In recent months, the regional men to men network has done sensitisation in communities around Nairobi in Kenya. The demand for speakers at seminars, materials and other support for faith-based organisations is more than could have been anticipated.

Men working in the media are among those who are committed to action for gender equality. Their profession puts them at the frontline of exposure to the realities of GBV and HIV/AIDS. In all the countries where men's initiatives have been established, the support of the men in the media has been key to reaching men. The involvement of men in the annual campaign, Sixteen Days of Activism Against Violence Against Women has also been key to mobilising male support for combating GBV. In the last two years, the linking of the role of men in combating GBV and HIV/AIDS by UN agencies and civil society has created a deeper understanding of the urgency for male participation. At the community level, male actors, artists, musicians and puppeteers have contributed.

The fight against HIV/AIDS and GBV has touched men who hold influence and power. Several heads of state have come out to state their positions and declare their support, for example, Mwai Kibaki of Kenya. In Africa, the most explicit support for the elimination of GBV came from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in a declaration that committed member states to a programme of action have taken frontline positions as men to influence male behaviour. Uganda has made strides in halting the spread of HIV/AIDS pandemic and offers lessons on how to mobilise and involve male players.

The fact that gender equality cannot be avoided forever has been accepted by many men and boys. Most men know it is only a matter of time before gender equality becomes a social norm, even in Africa, where most state have embraced gender equality as a principle in their Constitutions. Men who support gender equality and those mobilising other men to fight HIV/AIDS are innovators. They know when it is time to change and will take the risk to do so, regardless of what the majority thinks. Understanding their motivation to change gives us insights into what needs to be done to maintain their support and involve more of their kind.

Some recognise that gender equality is an answer to problems that bedevil their communities. Some have seen generations of women and men play different roles in their communities and recognise the complementary and equal value of the contributions of women and men. Some see the danger of oppressing any group and are the voice of reason in fighting for the rights of the oppressed. They have witnessed the impact of such threats to the whole community and are also in the forefront in fighting against other threats such as food insecurity, environmental degradation, ethnic or religious conflicts and political insecurity. These men see the connections between gender inequality and these threats to the future.

Human rights activists are among the most common campaigners for gender rights because of their belief in equality and justice. The women's rights movement has benefited from increased consciousness about human rights and the mushrooming of human rights organisations. The fight against GBV and HIV/AIDS is increasingly taking on the human rights approach, especially for the prevention and protection of GBV and HIV/AIDS as well as survivors of GBV and those living with HIV/AIDS.

Many young men are now joining campaigns on human rights, GBV and HIV/AIDS. Those brought up in environments where equality is a norm are less threatened by gender equality. Some say they learned through exposure in educational institutions and their relationships with girls and women that there is no room for patriarchy in their generation.

Sadly, there are also men who joined the campaign for gender equality because they are themselves victims. As the debate on GBV and HIV/AIDS is increasingly made public, there has been an increase in reported cases of violence against men. Many women feel that paying attention to violence against men trivialises GBV. However, it is my conviction that addressing violence against men is an opportunity to make the point that tolerance of any violence is unacceptable.

Men living with HIV/AIDS learned the hard way. Some resolved to join the campaign for gender equality to help other men avoid HIV/AIDS. Others include men who used to be substance abusers and ex-prisoners convicted of GBV for which they have repented. A founder of one of the men's initiatives in Africa started a programme for the rehabilitation of men after he served a sentence for violence against a woman who was close to him. He uses his experience to counsel other men and his programme now reaches boys in schools to teach them new gender values and notions of masculinity.

Fathers who love their daughters constitute men who support gender equality. Many men in the women's rights movement are there because of their love for their daughters, mothers and, sometimes, wives.

Most men's initiatives are created out of need. Such initiatives, although formed to address one need, become involved in different activities. GBV and HIV/AIDS may be only part of what they address.

The gains women and girls have made in education, policy and legal reform have had an impact on some men. This, in turn, has informed the way such men perceive gender relations. Many such men have seen the need for men to understand gender and be part of transformation.

Many men are involved in gender equality because they are weary of living the lies propagated by patriarchy. Many, particularly young men, recognise the dangers of believing stereotypes of men as better than women. Such lies frustrate men by expecting them to live up to the lies and they are often ostracised if they do not conform. In seminars with men, many have disclosed the agony and pain they have endured trying to conform by pretending to be super-human, by suppressing their feelings and emotions in being men. Such men have recognised that they too are victims of socialisation processes that oppress them even as they become the beneficiaries of the patriarchy. For example, many boys are treated harshly and denied love, comfort and warmth. They grow up without developing communication and emotional skills.

Beijing symbolises the fear and apprehension of many men who have been misinformed about the Fourth World Conference on Women. The focus on girls since Beijing has challenged men to look at boys. In several countries in Africa, gender programmes are now targeting boys because of the recognition that boys also suffer gender-specific problems arising from their socialisation. There is, for example, growing concern that while girls have been overburdened with family responsibilities, boys are underburdened with the result that they grow up without learning how to assume family responsibilities. The cost is particularly evident where many out-of-school young men are increasingly turning to substance abuse, violence and crime.

The economic crisis in Africa has jolted many men. It has reversed gender roles some men's initiatives have arisen to support men experiencing this reversal. Many men have found themselves in the scary situation of being dependants. This has increased the threat of GBV as many men take out their frustrations on women or, idle, turn to substance abuse.

HIV/AIDS has jolted many men to action, challenging them to examine how boys have been socialised into manhood and notions of masculinity that have been passed or not passed on to them. Targeting boys is thus gaining prominence as a medium-term strategy for changing male behaviour and developing new masculinities. Activities include developing new rites of passage which consider the changing roles of men and recognise gender equality as a social norm.

Conclusion

There is a budding men's movement that could be harnessed to sensitise and mobilise other men in support of gender equality. Efforts to work with men should include capacity building since most men's initiatives are new and inexperienced in group organisation and management.

The need for sensitisation on HIV/AIDS--testing, counselling, home-based care--is overwhelming. The level of ignorance of basic information about GBV and HIV/AIDS is high, even among men who are educated.

In 1985, at the Nairobi Conference, there was a slogan that women hold up half the sky. The holders of the other half need to know that they are only entitled to that half. In the fight against GBV and HIV/AIDS, male and female partnerships are critical and the need for men to assume their responsibilities is urgent.

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