Defying the Odds: Lessons Learnt from Men for Gender Equality Now

How can we tackle gender based violence? In 2001, the African Women's Development and Communication Network (FEMNET) created an African network of male activists against gender-based violence. The project “Men for Gender Equality Now” (MEGEN) has worked on training and community mobilisation, influencing ordinary Kenyans to challenge unequal power relations between men and women.This document shares the experiences of the members and trainers and reflects upon their reflect on their own change processes.

The booklet looks at personal journeys, testament and stories regarding the men's movements, experiences with female family members and how beliefs and mindsets regarding cultural norms can be challenged. It examines speaking out and breaking silences on gender violence by both men and women. The document also looks at three MEGEN programmes:the survivor support programme, dubbed “Rapid Response”; the Artist programme, which uses community theatre to address issues of gender inequality, gender based violence and HIV/AIDS; and the annual community outreach programme called the Men's Travelling Conference (MTC).

It provides lessons learnt from setting up the Megan project . These include:

• training on GBV and HIV/AIDS is key in ensuring that gender activists are grounded with knowledge about facts and myths on gender-based violence and HIV/AIDS
• men are sensitive to blame and prejudice, and therefore proactive communication and positive role-modeling is important when targeting men
• dialogue is the best way of helping men understand GBV and HIV/AIDS
• men who are in the process of transformation trust fellow men to discuss issues like GBV and HIV/AIDS - therefore it is easier for men to work with men.

It also discusses its Gender Training Program whose aim is to train and sensitise local communities on gender equality, gender-based violence and the role of men. One of the key training methods is community sensitisation workshops, which are primarily held in communities where the organisation has a membership base already. sessions include inter-gender dialogue sessions, where women and men confront each other with issues of gender relations, discrimination, masculinities and femininities; and Training of Trainers (ToT).