“Achieving gender equality requires a reconfiguration of power relations. That includes redefining our deeply-ingrained perceptions of masculinity and fatherhood. Fathers can help break the cycle of violence and discrimination against women by modeling equality, respect for diversity, empathy, and human rights of the next generation.” Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director UN Women.
The MenCare Campaign was led in collaboration with the Clinton Foundation’s No Ceilings: The Full Participation Project and HeForShe: UN Women Solidarity Movement for Gender Equality. The official launch of the world’s first-ever report on the State of the World’s Fathers – provide a global prospective on the state of men’s contribution to parenting and caregiving around the world. The launch of the “State of the World’s Fathers” report took place on Tuesday, 16 June 2015 at the United Nations Headquarters, Trusteeship Council Chamber. The Global Connections for Women Foundation (GC4W) Founder and Executive Director, Lilian O. Ajayi and Chief Temitope Ajayi (Mama Diaspora), Honorable Chair also took part in the official launch.
“Fathers matter. Father-Child relationships, in all communities and at all stages of a child’s live, have profound and wide-ranging impacts on children that last a lifetime.” The key findings of the “State of the World’s Fathers” report include:
- Involved fatherhood helps children thrive.
- Involved fatherhood makes men happier and healthier.
- Fathers want to spend more time with their children
- Men’s greater involvement in care work also brings economic benefits.
- Promoting father’s involvement must include efforts to interrupt the cycle of violence.
- Involved fatherhood allows women and girls to achieve their full potential – now and in future generations.
- Men’s involvements in caregiving is increasing in some parts of the world, but nowhere does it equal that of women.
- Men’s participation and support are urgently needed to ensure that all children are wanted children.
“The State of the World’s Fathers confirms this important fact with data and examples that spans across continents and socio-economic strata. This report fills a much-needed gap in examining men’s role in caregiving and domestic work. It makes a strong case for the need for change in our societies, public services, and in our attitudes toward fatherhood and childrearing.” Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Women.
Opening Remarks Chelsea Clinton,Vice Chair, Clinton Foundation, Key Note Address: Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director, UNFPA, Key Findings Presentations: Gary Barker, International Director, Promundo. Panel Discussion: Giselle Carino, Deputy Regional Director, International Planned Parenthood Federation/Western Hemisphere Region (IPPF/WHR); Yannick Glemarec, Deputy Executive Director for Policy and Programme, UN Women; Lena Karlsson, Director, Child Protection Initiative, Save the Children; Michael Sneed, Vice President, Global Corporate Affairs, Johnson & Johnson: Moderated by Richard Lui, MSNBC & NBC News Anchor. UN HeForShe Spokesperson. Plan International Because I Am A Girl Ambassador. Closing Remarks: Dean Peacock, Executive Director, Sonke Gender Justice; Nikki van der Gaag, Report Author and Author of “Feminism and Men”; Michael Kaufman, Report Author and Co-founder of the White Ribbon Campaign; Ruti Levtov, Report Author and MenCare Co-Coordinator, Promundo. Participants include the new CEO of Clinton Foundation, Jolly Amatya Co-Chair of UN Youth Assembly; Kanchan Amatya CEO & Founder of GirlUp – Nepal Foundation and SFFI and Resolution Fellow; Jenish Amatya Resolution Fellow.
The MenCare Campaign was also co-coordinated by Promundo and Sonke Gender Justice, with Rutgers, Save the Children, and the MenEngage Alliance. Learn more about the MenCare Campaign or to download the report on www.men-care.org. Read and download State of the World’s Fathers at sowf.men-care.org, and follow the discussion on Twitter using #SOWF and @MenCareGlobal.
Source and photo source.
