Workshop: National Consultation on Engaging Men and Boys for Gender Equality and Improved Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

Jakarta: On Friday, Sept 16, 2011, located at Park Hotel Jakarta, a national consultancy workshop on male involvement in addressing gender and reproductive health issues was conducted by UNFPA. The workshop was part of UNFPA’s Consultancy on Mapping and Programme Development on Engaging Men and Boys for Gender Equality, Prevention of Violence against Women and Girls and Improved Sexual and Reproductive Healths and Rights.

Despite the increasing recognition on the importance of male involvement in addressing gender and reproductive health issues, in reality men and boys are rarely engaged in each issues’ programming and policies. UNFPA aims to develop a blueprint for a broader male involvement in gender and reproductive health programmes. The consultancy, through mapping of current programmes and initiatives that include men and boys in its implementation, was done as the first step in creation of the blueprint.

The mapping assessment will also identify the most suitable agency to move male involvement agenda forward, and to identify possible entry point for evidence-based advocacy. Two consultants – Dr. Eric Ramirez-Ferrero and Dr. Joedo Prihartono – conducted the week-long mapping assessments.

The workshop itself served as a crucial input to the mapping assessment by bringing together stakeholders working in gender and reproductive health issues to discuss male involvement in gender and reproductive health’ programmes and policies. UN agencies, ministries, national commissions, civil society organizations, and religious leaders participated in the workshop that was held in collaboration with BKKBN.

Tags: Reproductive Health