During the last quarter of 2022, the Gender Team and HRMS at UNOV/UNODC launched an initiative on men's engagement for gender equality. The initiative was aimed at listening to men and understanding their perspectives on what opportunities and challenges they face around gender equality, both in their individual lives and in their work at UNODC. The initiative culminated in two workshops, where men had the opportunity to design strategies to enhance their participation in UNODC’s work on gender equality and women’s empowerment.
On 15 December 2023, a Food for Thought session was held to raise awareness on how gender inequality affects both men and women, and to provide men with tools to better understand their potential role in UNODC’s efforts towards gender equality.
The session was moderated by Hanna Sands, Programme Coordinator of the Gender Team and opened by Bo Mathiasen, Deputy Director of the Division of Operations. Cody Ragonese, Senior Program Officer at Equimundo, presented on men's allyship and masculinities in men’s individual lives, in their workplace, as well as in UNODC mandate areas of work. The session concluded with an open and fruitful discussion, where participants engaged in the conversation by providing their perspectives and opinions.
This Food for Thought session is only the first of a series of events on men's engagement for gender equality, all stemming from the ideation workshops held with men's colleagues earlier during the year – you can find more information on the workshops and initiative here.
Watch the Food for Thought session on Men's Engagement:
