Africa-Press – Mauritius. ‘Men as Allies’, a programme focused on promoting positive masculinity and engaging men and boys as active participants in the fight against all forms of violence against women, was launched, today, at the Camp Yoloff Community Centre in Port Louis. The launch coincides with the observance of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, commemorated annually on 25 November.
The Minister of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, Mrs Marie Arianne Navarre-Marie, the Minister of Housing and Lands, Mr Shakeel Ahmed Yousuf Abdul Razack Mohamed, and the Minister of Industry, SME and Cooperatives, Mr Sayed Muhammad Aadil Ameer Meea, were present. The ‘Men as Allies’ project is an initiative of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare to address violence against women with urgency and effectiveness.
During the event, 25 young men from Bhujoharry College, who have been enlisted as mentors as part of the programme, were awarded certificates following an intensive three-day capacity-building workshop designed to challenge harmful stereotypes and combat all forms of abuse. Additionally, 15 men, staff members of the Sugar Industry Labour Welfare and the National Children Council, made a pledge to collaborate with the mentors in 15 community centres and four national children’s clubs, marking the first phase of the programme’s implementation.
In her address, Minister Navarre-Marie stressed that the programme does not seek to instruct men on the way to behave but rather to promote an attitude of respect towards women and the rejection of all forms of violence. She pointed out that while women are disproportionately affected by domestic abuse, with men often being the perpetrators, it is crucial for men to recognise their potential role in providing solutions. “Developing positive masculinity involves being a man in a sane, respectful, and balanced manner,” she added.
The Minister further highlighted that violence continues to pose a significant challenge in society. She thus underscored the pivotal role of the 25 mentors, who are expected to act as ambassadors in promoting respect, challenging stereotypes, and combating violence.
For his part, Mr Mohamed saluted the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare for its commitment to finding long-term solutions to violence and the courage to intervene in addressing physical, mental and verbal violence. He underscored the importance of a sustained and comprehensive effort to empower individuals to report abuse and intervene responsibly. According to him, the key to tackling the scourge of domestic abuse lies in securing the commitment of the younger generation to work towards a society free of violence.
As for Minister Ameer Meea, he spoke of a vision of masculinity based on respect, dignity, and the ability to listen and protect. While wailing the ‘Men as Allies’ project, he underlined that equity is essential to building a more just and respectful society.
The Minister encouraged the 25 student mentors to serve as role models for their peers by deconstructing harmful stereotypes, rejecting violence, and promoting respect. He expressed his conviction that this initiative could have a transformative effect on families, communities, and society, with the potential to create lasting change across the country.
For More News And Analysis About Mauritius Follow Africa-Press
