|
News Release/24/02/11
Men In Women's Shoes March
In a bid to show solidarity for women in Cameroon and to mobilize men to end
violence against women, A Common Future organization mobilized men in
the North West Region of Cameroon on March 08, 2011, International Women's
Day, and marched a mile in women's high heeled shoes at the Bamenda
Commercial Avenue where thousands of women in Bamenda city joined their
counterparts the world over to celebrate this year's International Women's
Day.
A Common Future's immediate action in urging men to take time off this march
08, 2011, to walk a mile in women's shoes to feel the pinch of gender-based
violence. This walk which shall start from Bamenda's city chemist round
about to T-Junction shall be A Common Future's own response to the UN
Secretary General's call to men to be committed to ending violence especially
domestic violence against women. The objective of the march shall be to raise
awareness and funds in an effort to curb the rate of domestic violence on
women in the region and Cameroon in general.
The men in women's shoes walkaton builds on the saying that 'You can't really
understand another person's experience until you've put on her shoes to know
where it pinches'. That is why men were asked to show commitment to
ending violence against women by putting on a pair of high heeled
shoes on March 08, and joining A Common Future to walk a
mile. By doing this we as men were committed to help end violence
against women in this region, noted for its aggressive culture toward women.
With the understanding that men of quality do not fear equality, we urge well
meaning men in the region to become part of the solution rather than remain
part of the problem. Those who could not attend the march
were encouraged to donate to the event, and to nurge other men
to participate in the walkaton
The men in women shoes walkaton was a roll-call-of-profeminist men in
Cameroon as it sought to transform men from culprits to allies. In addition
to empowering women and girls to protect themselves, A Common Future's
activities in the coming years will address sources and perpetrators of
violence whether actual or potential. This requires hands-on engagement with
men and boys to help shift attitudes about the use of violence and empower
men as responsible agents of social change. Through this kind of outreach,
harmful societal norms can be challenged and a healthier construction of
masculinities- which do not subjugate women-can be created.
A Common Future recognizes that while men remain the primary perpetrators of
violence against women, they also need to be central to the solution to
ending it, as Ban Ki Moon, UNSG declared at the launch of a Network of Men
Leaders in 2009. After the walkaton, a men's programme with the objective of
carrying out intensive gender-sensitive training for men was launched.
Role model and mentorship programmes for boys in schools and colleges as well
as engaging men in community development issues that include sexual and
reproductive health and climate change shall be intensified.
Created in 2007, A Common Future works with men in ending violence against
women by proposing alterantive models of masculinities that are not
necessarily in opposition to models of femininity and that allow men and
women as well as boys and girls to share love, decision making and
reprductive health responsiblilities.
|