From November 25 to December 10 each year, thousands of organizations around the world participate in the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign. MenCare is joining these voices in advocating and acting against gender-based violence (GBV).
The 16 Days Campaign aims to raise awareness, strengthen local and national programs, and advocate for government policies to eliminate all forms of violence against women. The theme of the 2016 campaign is “From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World: Make Education Safe for All!”
In addition to the powerful work our partners do every day, MenCare is participating in 16 Days online by sharing quotes from around the world about the important role men – as caregivers and fathers – can play in creating safe spaces for children at home and at school.
See all 16 inspirational quotes below! We’re sharing one quote each day on social media from November 25 to December 10. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to see them all.
Day 1: November 25
“In order to create safe spaces for children at school, fathers need to talk with their kids about violence. It is important to explain that violence creates violence, and that we must promote alternative ways of dealing with conflict.” – Marat Aliyaskarov, Public Foundation “Men Against Violence” and MenEngage EECA Platform, Kyrgyzstan
Day 2: November 26
“Fathers who educate their children with respect and dialogue, and who treat their partners as equals, are a key part of ensuring that our homes, communities, and schools are safe for girls and boys.”
– Gary Barker, Equimundo, United States
Day 3: November 27
“When men demonstrate to our children that recognizing and expressing emotions without violence is a responsible and healthy attitude, children will learn from our example.” – Darío Ibarra Casals, Centro de Estudios sobre Masculinidades y Género, Uruguay
Day 4: November 28
“When men show love and care for family members, children also learn to love and care for others.”
– Ashok Kumar, World Vision Lanka, Sri Lanka
Day 5: November 29
“Being a father is indispensably connected to care. You become a father when you learn how to care – both for others and for yourself.” – David Kiuranov, Association Roditeli, Bulgaria
Day 6: November 30
“Fathers will be able to provide their children a supportive environment, only once they are aware of the possible risks in their surrounding. However, even before being able to do that, fathers first need to feel responsible for their children’s care and development.” – The AÇEV team, AÇEV, Turkey
Day 7: December 1
“Gender-based violence has very deep roots, so prevention of it must start from an early age. Fathers should work to influence not only children, but also people in their communities, to change harmful attitudes about violence.” – Branko Birač, Centar E8, Serbia
Day 8: December 2
“These days, in the United States, there are many young people who do not feel safe. Fathers, and all men, can have a deep and enduring impact by rejecting discourses of hate and exclusion, and by promoting equality and social justice.” – Ruti Levtov, Equimundo, United States
Day 9: December 3
“At least once a day, we have a meal together as family, which gives us happiness and connection.”
– Pathmawadhi, Sri Lanka
Day 10: December 4
“Fathers who play an active role in caregiving help provide a safe space for positive child development in the home and in schools.” – John Crownover, Care International Balkans, the Balkans
Day 11: December 5
“We need involved fathers to transform traditional gender roles and to commit to equality between men and women. There is no safer place than a place where we learn to build freedom from inequality.”
– Christian Guzmán, ALIADOS / hombres por la igualdad de género, Peru
Day 12: December 6
“I make a point of having weekly conversations with my daughter’s pre-school teacher. Although she’s mostly used to interacting with mothers, now she’s reaching out to me too – not as a support parent, but as one of two primary caregivers.” – Wessel van den Berg, Sonke Gender Justice, South Africa
Day 13: December 7
“Fathers/men remain in privileged positions of power. If they can use that power positively to promote dialogue and become role models in promoting nonviolent and gender-equitable relationships in their homes, this would create safe spaces for children at home, school, and the community at large.”
– Shamsi Kazimbaya, Equimundo, Rwanda
Day 14: December 8
“Caring is human. All humans want to feel important and needed for and by others. By caring for others, we care for ourselves. Men should care!” – Tomas Agnemo, Rädda Barnen / Save the Children Sweden, Sweden
Day 15: December 9
“Fathers can model and demonstrate gender equality through their actions, by showing respect to women and girls in the family and community, taking on an equal share of household and other unpaid care work, and standing for equal opportunities for daughters.” – Joni van de Sand, MenEngage Alliance Global Secretariat
Day 16: December 10
“You will know a caring father when you see him using nonviolent forms of discipline and giving his children a voice.” – The MenEngage Kenya Network (MenKen) team, MenKen, Kenya
“Communication and dialogue between fathers and mothers is important in decision-making about educational methods and in setting limits without the use of violence.” –Tatiana Moura, Equimundo, Brazil
