28/01/2025 Equality and Non-Discrimination
The crucial role of men and boys in promoting gender equality was the focus of an event on “How parliamentarians can be agents of change” organised jointly by the PACE Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination and the Nordic Council of Ministers on 27 January 2025 in the framework of PACE’s winter part-session.
Speaking at the event were Xavier Bettel, Chair of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg and PACE President Theodoros Rousopoulos, who reflected on the challenges of changing societal attitudes towards gender stereotypes.
Drawing from his experience as Prime Minister, Mr Bettel emphasised the importance of addressing stereotypes and the need for structural changes. “The most difficult point is to change minds – to reboot some brains on stereotypes,” he remarked. He called for sanctions for political parties failing to meet gender quotas rather than rewards for compliance and highlighted global setbacks in gender equality in light of decisions by certain governments to reduce funding for equality initiatives.
President Rousopoulos highlighted PACE’s work, such as Resolution 2480 on “the role and responsibility of men and boys in stopping gender-based violence against women and girls” and stressed the importance of speaking out against sexism and harmful masculinity. “All men must be part of the response to combat gender-based violence,” he stated, urging male parliamentarians to serve as ambassadors of positive masculinity and role models for boys.
Also speaking at the event, UN Women Deputy Regional Director Elisa Fernandez Saenz who painted a sobering picture of progress and challenges in gender equality with uneven global progress – statistics show that at the present rate gender parity in parliaments would take another 39 years. She emphasised that “gender equality is not just a women's issue – it requires collective action from all members of society, including men and boys”.
Secretary General of the Parliament of Iceland, Ragna Árnadóttir, challenged traditional narratives by questioning why women must constantly prove themselves better than men to be seen as their equals. She called for a shift in the conversation, urging men to actively join the fight for gender equality.
Ambassador Pap Ndiaye, Permanent Representative of France to the Council of Europe, addressed the deeply rooted nature of gender inequalities, emphasising that gender equality requires rethinking societal structures and priorities. Using the example of playground dynamics, he underlined the need to redesign public spaces to promote inclusivity.
Equimundo’s José Campi-Portaluppi highlighted the economic precarity and lack of purpose facing many young men, which has made them susceptible to the influence of harmful masculinist figures. The organisation advocated for positive role models and opportunities for caregiving roles as a meaningful pathway for young men to find purpose.
PACE’s General Rapporteur on Violence against Women, Etilda Gjonaj, emphasised that gender-based violence and harmful masculinity are interconnected. She underscored the importance of increasing women’s participation in politics to ensure more inclusive laws and representation.
The event concluded with a powerful call to action: gender equality requires the active involvement of men and boys. As Mr Bettel said, “We need men to show up – not just for the women in their lives, but for their own sakes and the future of our societies.”
