Regional training workshop on GBV and AIDS takes place in Nairobi.

• Author: Wanjira, Mwiyathi

Men for Gender Equality Now is a regional network whose members are drawn from various countries including Kenya, Malawi, Somaliland, Ethiopia, South Africa and Zambia.

Having noted that majority of the members of Men for Gender Equality Now are currently lacking in adequate skills to train and sensitise others on gender issues, FEMNET organised a 5 day training workshop at the Safari Park Hotel from October 28 to November 2, 2003.

The aim of this workshop was to build the capacity and commitment of men to eradicate violence against women (VAW) and girls as well as HIV/AIDS and to develop the men's movement for gender equality. The workshop also aimed to provide information on gender issues in general and gender based violence (GBV) in particular ; provide guidance on gender sensitisation with specific reference to GBV; stimulate the development of initiatives geared towards eradicating GBV; and educate participants on pertinent facts on HIV/AIDS with emphasis on its relation to gender issues.

This event coincided with FEMNET's annual Board Meeting giving members of the Board an opportunity to participate and share experiences with the male trainees. Kibre Dawitt Chair of the Board of Trustees, noted the need to involve boys and men in the efforts to change the culture of violence and oppression emerges with deeper understandings of the root causes of GBV among which is unequal power relations between females and males. She added that FEMNET recognises the need for diverse approaches and strategies to tackle gender inequalities and that the network of Men for Gender Equality Now is a strategy aimed at creating an African movement of men in support of women's equality.

The Chairperson of the Executive Board, Mama Koite, attended the workshop's closing ceremony and dinner. In her remarks, Koite said that FEMNET was proud to be pioneering the male-based approach in combating GBV, and added that this approach was fast gaining importance in the United Nations (UN) system and among the civil society. She added that the extent and magnitude of GBV in our countries and also the gravity of the extent and prevalence of HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa makes it imperative for men to come on board to work in partnership with women in order to fight these wars together.

Koite encouraged the participants to implement their action plans upon their return to their countries in order to take the messages learnt to more people. However, change must begin at...