Gender Based Violence: South South Men Push For Gender Equality.

 

Stakeholders from the South South Region have agreed that there is need for all to embrace Gender  Equality maintaining that it was high time disparity against the women folk stopped.

The stakeholders numbering about forty men, making the decision in Warri Delta State during a Train the Trainers workshop, all agreed that the society will be a better place if women are given opportunities to contribute their quota towards the betterment of the society without being oppressed.

The one -day training which took place at the weekend organized by Value Rebirth & Empowerment Initiatives was sponsored by Ford Foundation.

 Also tagged Male Feminists Network, the men all spoke in one voice agreeing that actually women should be given more opportunities to thrive.

 The stakeholders meeting which had the theme " Deconstructing societal norms and misconceptions” saw the men who were all religious leaders, agreeing that men should create opportunity and balance for women to also try to showcase their talents adding that “we should imbibe the spirit of Unity for all to grow together.”

A communique issued at the end of the meeting reads: “we the participants at the training of the Trainers Workshop of the Male Feminist Network organized by the Value Rebirth and Empowerment Initiative in collaboration with the African Centre for Leadership and Strategy with support from Ford Foundation have agreed that   as we leave here, we will engage other men as key advocates, meaning that we will engage as key advocates in the  fight against gender based violence. 

 “That we are committed to engaging men as key advocates and facilitators in the fight against gender based violence and promote accountability in our communities.

“That Male feminists should promote respect, give room for unity, and justice is the way to go. Feminism should hate inequality and promote equality. We shouldn’t impose ideas instead; we should cross fertilize ideas. Let fairness take a center stage.

Welcoming the participants earlier, Pastor Edewor Egedegbe, the Executive Director of Value Rebirth and Empowerment Initiatives, said that the train the trainers   workshop was called to clarify common misconceptions about gender.

 He said men should build a gender just mindset, the one that is based on equity, fairness and respect for all for the society to be a better place.

Feminism he explained, does not mean women hating men but about fighting for equality, a just society and respect for all.

 He said: “Feminism is about fairness and equality not competition between men and women. Masculinity and feminism are not opposites. Men can be proud feminists, male engagement is a powerful force for lasting societal change, building a gender based mindset begins with awareness and daily action.

“What we are trying to do in this project is to demystify feminism. We see feminism as a movement for equality between men and women. We mean equal rights and equal opportunities.

“Most importantly, gender equality is not women’s issue. It’s a human issue. When men stand for equity, everyone rises.” He stated.

 Also speaking, Otive Igbuzor  founding Executive Director, Center for Leadership, Strategy and Development, maintained that in center LSD, they believe that leadership is not merely about influence but about transformation.  

He disclosed that gender based violence has eaten deep into the fabrics of the Niger Delta Region.

Igbuzor said:” We are on line of Transforming the individuals, communities and systems, transforming gender relationships, dismantling patriarchy and building a society where men and women live with mutual dignity and safety.  

 He continued: “Gender based violence remains one of the deepest scares in our social fabric across the Niger Delta; a region blessed with resources, yet burdened with inequalities that silence women and normalize inequality.

“Despite growing awareness, reporting remains slow due to Stigma, Impunity and Cultural Taboos. The depth is tragic. Many women and girls suffer in silence. In some communities, men still see dominance as proof of masculinity while harmful sayings such as, a woman’s place is in the kitchen continue to shape social expectations.

“But Patriarchy does not only hurt women, it imprisons men too by forcing them to suppress Empathy, Vulnerability and Accountability.”