The Male Feminist Network (MFN) South-South has called for greater involvement of men and boys in the campaign against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), emphasizing that sustainable progress toward gender equality can only be achieved when men become active partners in challenging harmful gender norms and advocating for the rights of women and girls.
The call was made during the inauguration of the Cross River State Steering Committee of the Male Feminist Network and a step-down training for key stakeholders held at the Partners for Peace (P4P) Secretariat in Calabar.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of the Value Rebirth and Empowerment Initiative (VREI), Pastor Edewor Egedegbe, said the fight against Gender-Based Violence should not be seen as the responsibility of women alone but one that requires the commitment of men and boys to dismantle harmful cultural beliefs and practices that fuel violence and discrimination.
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According to him, achieving lasting social change demands the active participation of men in promoting accountability, equality and positive masculinity while supporting women and girls to live free from violence, intimidation and discrimination.
Egedegbe described the inauguration of the Cross River Steering Committee as a strategic step towards strengthening the Male Feminist Network across the South-South region and expanding community-based advocacy against Gender-Based Violence.
He urged members of the newly inaugurated committee to regard their appointment as a call to service by providing purposeful leadership in mobilising communities to embrace gender equality and reject all forms of violence against women and girls.
Following the inauguration, participants drawn from civil society organisations, youth groups, faith-based organisations and community-based organisations underwent intensive training on gender equality, feminism and the role of men as allies in preventing Gender-Based Violence.
The training featured sessions on positive and toxic masculinity, harmful cultural practices and gender stereotypes, gender equity and inclusion, the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law, community advocacy strategies and approaches to promoting respectful relationships.
Participants were also encouraged to champion healthy masculinities, support survivors of violence and mobilise other men and boys to become advocates for gender justice within their communities.
Speaking on behalf of the newly inaugurated Steering Committee, its Chairman, Dr. Njar Bassey, expressed appreciation to the Value Rebirth and Empowerment Initiative, the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD), the Ford Foundation and other partners for the confidence reposed in the committee.
Njah described the appointment as both an honour and a responsibility, assuring stakeholders that the committee would provide strategic leadership for the implementation of the Male Feminist Network’s activities across Cross River State.
He said the committee would mobilise men and boys as allies for gender equality, strengthen collaboration with government institutions, civil society organisations, traditional rulers and religious leaders, while driving advocacy initiatives aimed at preventing Gender-Based Violence.
The committee, he added, would also promote positive masculinity, encourage accountability, challenge harmful cultural practices and support community-based initiatives designed to build peaceful, inclusive and violence-free communities.
The event ended with participants reaffirming their commitment to advancing the objectives of the Male Feminist Network by promoting gender justice, protecting the rights and dignity of women and girls, and fostering sustainable social change across Cross River State.
