Equimundo, as a co-coordinator of MenCare: A Global Fatherhood Campaign, launched the third State of the World’s Fathers report on June 5 at the Women Deliver 2019 Conference in Vancouver, Canada. The event was co-hosted by Equimundo and Unilever, Dove Men+Care, in advance of Father’s Day in many countries around the world. Other international launches, in seven cities around the world, were held at conferences and parliaments in Sweden, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and more.
The State of the World’s Fathers 2019 report was featured in the media, from the New York Times and the Telegraph, to Forbes and Devex, with over 70 media mentions. The report’s social media campaign, #WorldsFathers, had a potential reach of nearly five million people.
Here are some of the highlights:
Vancouver | Stockholm | Tórshavn | London | The Hague | Leiden | Pretoria | Washington, DC
Vancouver, Canada
June 5
Women Deliver 2019 Conference
Christopher MacLennan, Assistant Deputy Minister for Global Issues and Development at Global Affairs Canada, delivered opening remarks for the State of the World’s Fathers 2019 report launch at the Women Deliver 2019 Conference. The conference is the world’s largest summit on gender equality and the heath, rights, and well-being of girls and women. “Being a father is the most important identity I have,” MacLennan said, calling attention to the importance of involved fatherhood and the need for paid parental leave.
Equimundo President and CEO Gary Barker also unveiled the MenCare Commitment: a commitment to accelerating men’s uptake of 50 percent of the unpaid care work, starting with 50 minutes more care work per day.
Watch the full event here, including remarks from UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, State of the World’s Fathers co-author Brian Heilman, and Malala Fund Co-founder Ziauddin Yousafzai.
Stockholm, Sweden
June 10
The Swedish Institute
The launch of the State of the World’s Fathers 2019 report at the Swedish Institute, organized by MÄN, Plan International, and Save the Children, took the shape of a panel discussion moderated by MÄN’s Catrin Söderberg, with the participation of Swedish Minister of Gender Equality Åsa Lindhagen.
Learn more (in Swedish).
Tórshavn, Faroe Islands
June 11
Nordic Council of Ministers Barbershop Event: Mobilizing Men And Boys For Gender Equality
The State of the World’s Fathers 2019 report was presented to the Nordic Council of Ministers by Equimundo President and CEO Gary Barker at a barbershop event focused on how men can contribute to improving gender balance in the workplace and to achieving shared caregiving at home.
London, United Kingdom
June 13
Palace of Westminster
Report co-authors Gary Barker and Nikki van der Gaag presented the State of the World’s Fathers 2019 report in the UK Parliament alongside David Lammy MP, co-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Fatherhood and Marvyn Harrison, founder of Dope Black Dads. The UK-specific data on men’s take up of paternity leave was highlighted, as well as concern around negative portrayals of fathers in the media.
The Hague, the Netherlands
June 14
Father Centre
The launch of the State of Dutch Fathers in a father center at The Hague in the Netherlands featured Wouter Koolmees, Minister of Social Affairs and Employment, who spoke about how to navigate care work within relationships. The report revealed that information around parental leave arrangements is still needed, leading Dutch politicians to publicly speak out that they will try to increase pressure on Dutch companies to promote leave policies. The State of Dutch Fathers received national media attention from Hart van Nerderland, Radio1, and Volkskrant.
Learn more (in Dutch).
Leiden, the Netherlands
June 17
International Step by Step Association Conference
Equimundo’s Kate Doyle presented the State of the World’s Fathers 2019 report in Leiden, Netherlands at the International Step by Step Association’s pre-conference workshop on gender equity and father (and/or other male caregiver) involvement in early childhood.
Pretoria, South Africa
June 26
UNICEF South Africa
UNICEF South Africa partnered with Sonke Gender Justice for the South African launch of the State of the World’s Fathers 2019 report in Pretoria, South Africa. The launch was MC’ed by AfroDaddy vlogger Terence Mentor featured and featured opening remarks from Gloria Khoza, UNICEF SA Child Protection Officer.
Washington, DC, United States
September 5
House of Sweden
Equimundo partnered with the Embassy of Sweden to co-host a panel discussion on gender equality, parental leave, and men as caregivers, where Equimundo’s Dean Peacock presented findings from the State of the World’s Fathers 2019 report. The event was followed by an exclusive viewing of the critically acclaimed photo exhibition Swedish Dads by Swedish photographer Johan Bävman. The panel discussion was moderated by Vicki Shabo, a Senior Fellow at New America’s Better Life Lab.
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