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Work with Men and Boys


In order to promote gender equality and women’s equal enjoyment of human rights, SAHAYOG works with men and boys as responsible partners in encouraging social change and securing a violence-free life for all. Since unequal gender relations are upheld by various institutions, programme interventions go beyond behaviour change strategies into transforming institutions themselves.

Objectives:
  • To transform gender relations by bringing about a change among men and boys
  • To campaign for ending all forms of violence against women
  • To change the gendered nature of institutional policies
  • To promote gender equitable and responsible relationships for prevention of HIV/AIDS

To fulfil these objectives, SAHAYOG reaches out to men and boys through cultural and advocacy events, trainings, publications and interventions to raise awareness on issues of gender equality, masculinities, violence against women and health. SAHAYOG also strengthens forums aimed at providing men with a supportive peer environment to challenge gender-based values and practices.

From 2003 to 2008, SAHAYOG’s work with men has included the following activities:

Supporting a men's network MASVAW

Since 2003, SAHAYOG has hosted the secretariat of the network Men’s Action for Stopping Violence Against Women (MASVAW) network, which brings together youth in university and colleges, adolescents, school and university teachers, media persons, social activists, academicians, and local elected councillors in rural areas. MASVAW organizes campaigns, seminars, workshops, and other initiatives to encourage men to challenge social norms of gender inequality and oppose violence against women.

For more information about MASVAW’s work, please click here.

Interventions with Young Men and Boys in schools

Through SAHAYOG’s programs in schools, colleges and universities youth are encouraged to debate, paint, discuss films and engage with other youth and men towards building a deeper understanding of the issues of VAW and gender inequality. These have proved immensely popular all over Uttar Pradesh and there is ever-increasing demand for seminars and workshops with the students.

SAHAYOG has a body of resource materials such as posters, games, flash-card sets, an activity book and films for interactive sessions with young men and boys. SAHAYOG has also developed modules for teachers to use for creating awareness in school children, and a set of training session plans for gender trainings with men

Men Beyond Bridges

In 2007, SAHAYOG carried out a study on the issue of gender, masculinities and HIV/AIDS in the context of male migration in the eastern region of Uttar Pradesh. The report of the findings were used to create training modules and educational materials in Hindi for migration preparedness. This is a departure from conventional HIV prevention material in that it highlights the complex nature of negotiating safe sex within heterosexual or male-to-male interactions, occurring either with or without consent.

SAHAYOG has conducted a capacity building workshop using the Training Module, in which participants were enabled to understand HIV in the context of gendered and multiple vulnerabilities. The posters, stickers, flash-card set, illustrated story and FAQ booklet specifically focused on the needs of young men and boys who are likely to migrate to large cities. These resources helped to prepare young male migrants in eastern Uttar Pradesh with information on risk-taking behavior, and promote gender equitable and responsible relationships for the prevention of HIV/AIDS.
 
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