Résultats de recherche

Positive masculinity programs, gender attitudes and practices, and health behaviors among men and boys in poor urban settlements in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, and Rwanda

The booklet summarizes the main achievements and lessons learnt during the implementation of the different activities of GEWEP III in year 2022.

This qualitative study explored gender relations and the role of masculinities on women’s participation in local civilian and political agendas in the eight Rwandan districts including Burera, Gakenke, Gatsibo, Ngororero, Nyagatare, Nyamagabe, Nyaruguru and Rulindo. The study, carried out in December 2020 and January 2021, included interviews and discussions with 384 men, women, boys and girls in 64 Focus Group Discussions and 25 Key informant interviews with stakeholders, experts and leaders at national, district and community levels. The research aimed to identify obstacles in gender relations and masculinities that contribute to GBV and hinder women’s participation of the local agenda and grasp aspects of masculinity that positively contribute to women’s engagement and participation in local politics. The obstacles are associated with attitudes, practices and perceptions on masculinities in gender relations : Cultural perceptions and norms are keeping women and men captured in traditional gender roles : Gender relations are characterized by traditional gender roles where men are the head of the family and women do household work. Women and girls’ ambitions remain often focused to “be a good wife and mother”. In being a “good woman” they have to respect men and husbands as their providers and protectors which automatically gives men the privileged position as decision makers. “Good man” are responsible for the family and in being a real man they cannot do women’s work. Cultural taboos and shame are playing an important role in keeping men and women stuck to socially ascribed activities. Social norms are internalized and deeply ingrained in gendered identities. Breaking such social codes generates strong emotions as shame, especially among men ; that makes changes of gender norms difficult. Power inequality facilitates men’s use of violence against women and reinforce traditional social norms of women as weak and men as decision makers : Men feeling entitled to dominate and control women because they are income providers and males, are not providing space for women to take decisions nor consider their opinions. Furthermore, power inequality leads to various forms of violence against women committed by men, and women are often blamed for men’s use of violence. Framing women as peacemakers that are responsible for harmony at home contribute to men’s justification of violence use to a wife that is not respecting him. In other words, power inequality reinforces violence and abuse against women and feeds the perception that masculinity means that men can restrict, abuse and dominate their wives. Psychosocial responses of women and girls affected by gender-based violence reinforce traditional gender roles : Many women and girls are coping with negative consequences of violence by keeping silent and acceptance of traditional gender roles. The psychosocial consequences of violence confine women, but also girls, to their socially prescribed roles and force them to accept men’s power and control to avoid conflicts and social rejection. Fear and consequences of violence, the shame of being labeled as a bad woman who is not respecting her husband, is a major obstacle for women to participate in public activities. To avoid violence and social rejection, women navigate their life’s between traditional gender roles expectations and searching opportunities to enjoy her women rights. Gender equality is perceived as a failure of masculinity : Men and boys resist to support gender equality as they fear that women’s autonomy may take power away from men. Men are afraid that women’s empowerment makes women disrespectful, arrogant, prostitutes and make them a source of conflicts at home. Social taboos on men’s vulnerability and weakness are pushing men and boys to meet masculinity perceptions of being strong, tough and in control. Failure in having control, is an important source of resistance against gender equality and violence against women. Rwandan regulations to promote gender equality and end GBV are hindered by masculinity perceptions : The anti GBV law has an important preventive impact on gender-based violence against women. Fear for punishment has created a taboo on violence against women as a crime that is no longer accepted as a social cultural phenomenon. Loss of power is confronting men with failed masculinity that generates resistance and sometimes more violence. Access for women to decision making structures is opening new windows for women and girls but full implementation is hindered by hegemonic masculinities. Access for women and girls to political engagement evolves but is hindered by deeply rooted perceptions on gender relations and masculinities : Women and men are aware of possibilities for women to participate in meetings and leadership roles, but traditional gender roles are the main obstacles for women as for men. Women cannot combine the household work with other activities and men are not yet ready to support his wife doing women’s work. Women, often lower educated than men, feeling less experienced and skilled to take up leader roles. Last but not least, strong resistance of men fearing to lose control is hindering women to participate. Young boys and girls supportive to women’s role in leadership positions : The younger generation is more convinced that women and men have equal capacities and competences for decision making and political participation. They have experienced themselves that there was no difference in skills and intelligence of boys and girls. Despite their support for women’s and girls’ access to leadership, and access for women and girls to work outside the house, they hold on to traditional gender roles. The majority of boys and girls think that women should do homework and childcare and men should generate income. But they could collaborate and support each other, when there is love between them. Positive masculinities of men that support women’s empowerment are potential present but need to be reinforced and guided : Despite challenges of men and women in embracing gender equality and supporting women and girls to participate in public roles, there are opportunities. Women and girls and -fewer men and boys- are in a process of adopting perceptions of positive masculinities as nonviolent, collaborative and supportive. It is recommended to support this process of change, including negative side effects as resistance, through research, programs and interventions that equally include men, women, boys and girls to experience the strength of gender equality as sharing being human. Limited capacity in gender mainstreaming among district planning units remains a stumbling block for effective transformation of negative masculinities and gender inequalities : the Rwanda government has made tremendous efforts to promote gender equality through positive masculinity among other approaches. However, the efforts made are thwarted by limited knowledge and skills in gender mainstreaming among district planning units who strongly need to strengthen their capacity to streamline key gender issues. POLICY BRIEF ON ISSUES HINDERING WOMEN PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL POLITICS IN RWANDA

Men working with women to transform social norms See more See more Prog rams Retrouvez tous les différents que nous avons mis en place à travers le pays dans ce tte section. Les clubs de jeunes, les ateliers de formation, etc. See more Resources Retrouvez tous les différents que nous avons mis en place à travers le pays dans cette section. Les clubs de jeunes, les ateliers de formation , etc. See more Consul ting Retrouvez tous les différents que nous avons mis en place à travers le pays dan s cette section. Les clubs de jeunes, les ateliers de formation, etc. See more Rwandan Men's Resource Center LATEST NEWS Tender for the supply of 5 motorcycles Best Employee of the year 2022 Kankindi Sandrine is RWAMREC' s best employee of the year 2022. Rwanda MenEngage Network Freshly elected members' committee 2023 during Rwanda MenEngage Network Annual General Meeting RWAMREC PUBLICATIONS Nous partageons les résultats de nos recherches ainsi que l'ensemble de nos à tous ceux qui s'intéressent au sujet. Vous trouverez dans la WOMEN’S PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL POLITICS IN RWANDA Role of men and masculinitie s Resource center FOLLOW US ON TWITTER SOCIAL NETWORK Follow our social network RWAMREC TV IMPACT 16k+ couples 28 districts 7k+ youn g peop le RWAMREC stats PARTNERS To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key. Subscribe to Our Newsletter Enter your email here Sign Up Thanks for submitting!

About us Welcome speech Dear Esteemed Visitors, We are very much honored to welcome you ALL to the official website of the Rwanda Men’s Resource Center (RWAMREC). RWAMREC recognizes gender equality as a fundamental human right and as a condition for effective and sustainable development. Nowadays, our global society is developing very quickly and taking many positive development directions. However, eradicating violence against women and children, and ending sexual and gender based violence to achieve gender equality remains a major challenge. RWAMREC was therefore created and is fully committed to providing its contribution to ongoing national efforts through promotion of positive forms of masculinities, engagement men as positive and supportive partners, and strengthening strategic partnerships between women and men for that end. We believe that by so doing, we can provide a significant contribution in making of Rwanda a good society where men working in partnership with women can lead to effective promotion of positive gender relationships and healthy families. We want this website to work as an interaction forum, where RWAMREC will be able to get your views and ideas in promoting gender equality, and would like to invite you ALL to join us and make your invaluable contribution in this regard. We hope so much that our internet portal will also be an effective and efficient communication and information tool for ALL our partners and stakeholders in development. You are most welcome again. Venant Nzabonimana, RWAMREC Chairman Vision The Vision of RWAMREC is a Rwandan peaceful society where women and men share roles and responsibilities of raising families, and governing society in equality and respect of human rights. Mission RWAMREC’s distinctive and innovative mission is to promote gender equality through reconstruction of a non-violent identity of men, adoption of healthy masculine behaviors and men’s empowerment to be positive and supportive partners, role models for other men and change agents in promoting healthy families and women’s socio-economic development, eradication of sexual and gender-based violence, positive fatherhood and men’s health in Rwanda. Objectives 1. Promote Male Engagement approaches and initiatives in ending men’s violence against women and gender-based violence, ​ 2. Promote Men’s positive attitudes and behaviors towards non-violence and gender equality practices in Rwanda, ​ 3. Building partnerships, networking synergies between men and women for effective prevention sexual and gender-based violence and promotion of healthy families, ​ 4. Spearheading capacity development networking and building synergies with other stakeholders for effective prevention of sexual and gender-based, ​ 5. Development of community resource centers and evidence-based programming initiatives based on action-oriented research in areas of gender equality, MenEngage approaches, and gender-based violence in Rwanda. Carry out mass mobilization and sensitization campaigns to engage men to adopt positive masculine behaviors to effectively prevent gender-based violence. Conduct action-oriented research on perceptions and practices on masculinity and GBV in Rwanda. Capacity development for mainstreaming and implementing the MenEngagement approaches into gender promotion and GBV prevention programs, Provide training and material resources for implementing MenEngage initiatives through gendered programs. Carry out Policy Advocacy initiatives and dialogues with the Government and other stakeholders to proactively prevent gender-based violence ; Organize dialogues and school mentorship programs in order to involve as many young women and men as possible in GBV prevention throughout Rwanda. promotion of positive masculine behaviors with uniformed personnel (police, army and students) All these activities shall be done in many areas of development, mainly ; health, education, women’s empowerment and poverty reduction programs, demobilization and reintegration of ex-combatants, public awareness/community mobilization on prevention of gender-based violence, empowerment of local leaders and opinion leaders on providing gendered collective services, women and children’s rights promotion and protection, etc. Main activities

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