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International Men's Day 2019 reflects on 'making a difference for men and boys'

Dunya News

International Men's Day is celebrated in over 80 countries, on 19 November annually.

(Web Desk) - International Men’s Day (IMD) is an annual international event celebrated on 19 November with the objectives of celebrating "The Six Pillars of International Men’s Day" and include focusing on men’s and boys’ health, improving gender relations, promoting gender equality, highlighting discrimination against men, and promoting male role models.

The theme of 2019’s International Men’s Day is "Making a Difference for Men and Boys," and focused on promoting the need to value men and boys and help people make practical improvements in men and boy’s health and well-being.

It is an occasion to celebrate boys and men’s achievements and contributions, in particular for their contributions to community, family, marriage, and child care. The broader and ultimate aim of the event is to promote basic humanitarian values, as per Wikipedia.

International Men’s Day is celebrated in over 80 countries, on 19 November, and global support for the celebration is broad.

Additionally, the month of November is also occasionally recognized as International Men’s Month. International Men’s Day is supported by a variety of organisations including UNESCO.

International Men’s Day is promoted not as just a gendered day but a day where all issues affecting men and boys can be addressed.

"They are striving for gender equality and patiently attempt to remove the negative images and the stigma associated with men in our society", said Jerome Teelucksingh, who revived the event after it ended in 1994.

As well as the six Core Objectives, a secondary theme for IMD has usually been suggested by world coordinators, such as peace in 2002, men’s health in 2003, healing and forgiveness in 2007, positive male role models in 2009 and ‘our children’s future’ in 2010.

Yearly themes

2011: "Giving Boys The Best Possible Start In Life"

2012: "Helping Men and Boys Live longer, Happier and Healthier Lives"

2013: "Keeping Men and Boys safe"

2014: "Working Together For Men and Boys"

2015: "Working To Expand Reproductive Options for Men"

2016: "Stop Male Suicide"

2017: "Celebrating Men And Boys In All Their Diversity"

2018: "Positive Male Role Models"

2019: "Making a Difference for Men and Boys"

Pakistan

Pakistani Human Rights organization  Rights and Rights  inaugurated International Men s Day in Muzaffargarh in 2010. Rights and Rights Founder Yousaf Jamal reported that around 100 people attended, with many lawyers, educationists, social activists and representatives of Women s organizations attending the seminar. Special tributes were paid to prominent male role models.

Jamal observed that in Pakistan over the last few years a lot of feminist organizations paint the whole male gender as cruel, and likewise in some prevailing laws there are discriminatory clauses against men, particularly in Family Law and Harassment in the Work Place Act.

Jamal paid reference to the steady decline of male participation at Higher Education and University level, citing student numbers in Karachi University as 90% female, in Punjab University 70% female, and in BZ University 52% female.

Mr Jamal spoke of the importance of gender cooperation in tackling various problems faced by males and females and cautioned that we should avoid the "Each gender for itself" approach and instead promote better gender relationships.

He proposed that all people should celebrate both Men s Day and Women s Day and asked everyone to join with Rights and Rights International for the elimination of Gender Based Discrimination.

In 2009 the following broad objectives were ratified as a basis for all International Men s Day observations, and are applied equally to men and boys irrespective of their age, ability, social background, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious belief and relationship status:

• To promote positive male role models; not just movie stars and sportsmen but everyday, working class men who are living decent, honest lives.
• To celebrate men s positive contributions to society, community, family, marriage, child care, and to the environment.
• To focus on men s health and wellbeing; social, emotional, physical and spiritual.
• To highlight discrimination against men; in areas of social services, social attitudes and expectations, and law.
• To improve gender relations and promote gender equality.
• To create a safer, better world; where people can live free from harm and grow to reach their full potential.

Many took to Twitter and expressed their support for the event;

by Shaheer Shaz

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