Deputy Secretary-General's video message to the AWLN Men’s Summit on Positive Masculinities

Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Today kicks-off a global moment of awareness for ending gender-based violence — the 16 Days of Activism. For millions of women and girls, the threat of violence – at home, in school, online – is a daily fear. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed many of the shortcomings and inequalities of our world. The equality gap between men and women is no exception. And it is true that, under the pandemic, we are seeing increased levels of violence globally – from child marriage, to domestic violence, to femicides. But blaming the pandemic for gender-based violence is short-sighted. It is also wrong. This is about far more than the pandemic’s social and economic impacts. And far more than the additional stress and uncertainty it has put on families. It is about taking responsibility for our own actions — or inaction. It is ultimately about the unspoken truth in the room — male violence. To my dear brothers attending this Summit, For decades, women have led the global movement to ensure that laws and policies addressing gender-based violence are enacted and enforced. They have worked to strengthen institutions and provided comfort and services to survivors of violence. They have marched in the streets, suffered arrests and persecution, been silenced in public spaces and relived their trauma by sharing their stories through the media and in the arts. Men, it is your turn to do more. And you can – especially when it comes to preventing violence in the first place. Use your participation in today’s Summit as a new starting point to discover and test effective ways of changing harmful male attitudes towards women and girls. Recommit to holding men accountable in your personal and public circles and recruit more men to lead on prevention. Speak out against inappropriate words and actions. It is time for you to contrast, promote and model a new idea of masculinity. One that is not threatened by the advancement of women and girls, but actively supports it. One that seeks and recognizes the injustices within patriarchal structures and replaces them with gender-equitable solutions. One that is committed to raising a new generation of boys that will become the men that end violence against women and girls once and for all. I know this can be done. And women are standing with you in this fight. After all each one of you is borne of a woman. Your mother is a wife, a daughter, a sister, a woman. Let’s get there together. Thank you and I wish you a wonderful event.