As part of a virtual event, UNESCO New Delhi launched today a groundbreaking report focusing on gender equality and masculinities in India, entitled ‘Transforming MEN-talities'.
The study sets out a vision and actions to tackle the persistent gender-based inequalities that women and girls face throughout their lives. Additionally, it aims to demystify gendered social roles and their origins.
Through this report, UNESCO seeks to support an emerging consensus on the importance of working with men and boys from all walks of life to change prevailing inequitable gender norms and harmful stereotypes and present a way forward towards a more equitable future.
By offering unique ways of engaging men and boys for gender equality, the report seeks to embed the idea of men with women, instead of men v/s women into the gender equality discourse.
As one of UN's first responders in this sphere, UNESCO is working to further gender equality and women’s empowerment. UNESCO's overall mandate is to combat all versions of gender inequality by tackling women’s disempowerment at its roots and reshaping social norms that perpetuate gender-based discrimination.
The report launched today advocates for change not only at the community level, but also at the individual level through legislation, education and advocacy. It affirms that inequality exists foremost in our minds, in our biases and prejudices. Therefore, a social revolution must be achieved in tandem with a revolution of the mind.
For us to lift half the population out of inequalities, we need the other half to work for it. Men need to be part of the solution for gender equality. By speaking up for women's rights, men must drive change among their peers.
At the event, Bollywood Actress Sanjana Sanghi also extended a call for action to everyone, encouraging people from all genders to come together to win the battle against gender inequality.
Click here to download the report.