We in the African Women's Development and Communications Network
(FEMNET)would like to share with you the report of our Men to Men
Consultation on Gender Based Violence. The Consultation, which was held
in Nairobi from 6-9 Dec 2001, brought together 27 men from Kenya,
Malawi, Namibia and South Africa. These men are members of men only
groups that have come together in response to the need for men to come
out and break the silence and take action against violence on women and
children. Some of these groups have also recognised the need to support
men to cope with the changing male roles and responsibilities.

The Consultation, which was timed to coincide with the Sixteen Days
of Activism Against Violence on Women, resulted in the formation of the
African Network of Men Against Gender Based Violence. FEMNET will
work with the groups in the four countries to implement national level
as well as regional activities; drawing into the Network men groups from
other countries as the programme develops. The Consultation resulted in
some ideas for follow-up activities at the national and regional levels;
and already follow-up action is underway.

A session on Men and Women Dialogue was held during the Consultation,
which pointed to the great value of creating discussion fora for
dialogue between women and men; boys and girls; even as we encourage
gender specific dialogues. As the strategy for reaching men for support
in tackling women's empowerment and gender rights issues gather
momentum, we are conscious that there are some strong reservations about
the approach.

FEMNET has worked in the gender arena for the last twelve years,
training thousands of women and men together in gender and development
programming. Our experience is that we must bring men on board our
struggle. While maintaining a focus on our original goal of equality
between women and men, we must recognise that men still hold power and
authority at all levels; and that we need this same power to change the
political, policy, social, economic and other systems and structures;
and to cause new power relations.

The strategy to work with men should never replace or be pursued at
the expense of our struggle to empower women so that they can enter the
mainstream of power sharing with men. Indeed the two-pronged strategy
of women only and gender-based approaches must be perfected if women are
to enter and remain in the mainstream of power and politics, economy
decision-making and other power systems.

We enclose herewith the report of the Consultation for those that are
interested in the details. [***Moderators's note: If you would like
to receive a copy of this report in Word, please send an e-mail to
and write in the subject line: FEMNET
report
***]

Muthoni Wanyeki
Executive Director

African Women's Development and Communications Network (FEMNET)
P. O. Box 54562, Nairobi, Kenya.
Tel: +254 2 741301/20
Fax: +254 2 742927
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.africaonline.co.ke/femnet

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Jennifer Radloff, Convenor - Communications Programme
African Gender Institute, UCT, Private Bag Rondebosch,
7701. South Africa. Tel +27 21 650 4204 Fax 685 2142
Web: http://www.uct.ac.za/org/agi
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