From allyship to action: how men can step up to end violence against women

Convened in the lead up to the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, this high-level ODI and ALIGN event deepened conversations around men's role in driving change. To move the conversation along from men expressing public outrage to men taking action, this discussion delved into the experiences of men who already lead, speak out and design policy against male violence.

ALIGN’s forthcoming report on feminist activism to end gender-based violence in public spaces highlights how cis-women, trans-women and gender non-conforming people face a litany of unsafe and potentially harmful encounters with violent masculinity every single day. But, can all genders come together in pursuit of a world free from violence and femicide?

On Tuesday 22 November 2022 this Public dialogue heard from leaders and organisations working in this space, to centre the role of men as agents of change to promote healthy, non-violent masculinities. By shifting the focus of gender-based violence prevention onto accountability of perpetrators, it expanded the scope of action for male allies, policymakers and other supporters of change. The discussion also helped demystify the different layers of gender norms at play, so we can build consensus on collective strategies to generate a more gender-equal world.