25/01/2023 Session
Men and boys can play an important role in combating gender-based violence by being agents of change and “speaking out against harmful practices, acting as role models and challenging sexism”, PACE has said.
Adopting a resolution based on a report by Petra Stienen (Netherlands, ALDE), the Assembly said the fight against gender-based violence has historically been led by women and women’s rights organisations but men and boys, in all their diversity, “also have an important role to play”.
It called on member States to adopt strategies or national action plans which encouraged the role of men and to raise awareness in this group. These should emphasise a “mindful masculinity” which encouraged men to step out of their “man box”, said Ms Stienen.
Member States should create, if they have not already done so, preventive intervention and treatment programmes for perpetrators of gender-based violence against women and girls, based on existing international standards in this area.