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Southeast
Asian Regional Workshop on Men's Role in Violence Against Women
The
Southeast Asian Regional Conference on Men's Role in Violence Against
Women was organised by the KAUSWAGAN Community Social Center (Cebu Doctors'
College Community Extension Services. It was held in Cebu, Philippines,
on the 16th - 20th April 2001.
The workshop gathered various NGOs from countries in the South East
Asia to discuss the role of men in issues of violence against women.
The Malaysian participants were Women's Aid Organisation(WAO), All Women's
Action Society (AWAM) and Women's Crisis Centre Penang (WCC).
The
Conference - probably the first of its type in Southeast Asia - aims
to support the emerging movement of community groups involving men in
advocacy and campaigns on violence against women. The Conference would
explore and document current initiatives in this are and suggest strategies
for greater engagement and partnership between men and women to addressed
and eliminate violence against women.
The
key resources person for this conference is Michael Kaufman, Ph.D.,
who is prominent among Canadian men working to end men's violence and
to develop new and better relations between the sexes in workplace and
communities. He is the originator of the idea, and a founding member
of the White Ribbon Campaign,
the largest effort in the world of men challenging men to end violence
against women.
Objectives
- To
examine the root causes of violence against women, including male/female
socialization and education, highlighting the links between masculinity
and gender based violence;
- To
share and document the work of community groups where men are involved
in advocacy and campaigns on violence against women, in order to broaden
and strengthen this involvement;
- To
share and document innovative intervention and support strategies/programs
by government and non-governmental organizations for male perpetrators
of violence against women, such as counselling, orientation and seminars,
hotlines for men, etc.;
- To
develop a set of preventive measures/strategies involving partnership
between women and men in preventing violence and promoting a culture
of peace.
Summary
of Workshop
Introduction
Nature and Causes of Men's Violence
Socialization of Men that Leads to Gender Violence
Intervention Schemes Among Men Who Use Violence
Preventive Measures/Education/Strategies Involving
Men and Women
Introduction
- Men
have roles in preventing and eliminating violence against women.
- The
link between socialization and gender violence is a complex one.
- Causes
of men's gender-based violence are not due to socialization alone.
Power and inequality are also relevant.
- To
use or not to use violence is every man's choice.
- In
working with men, the term "men who use violence" - and
not "violent men" - should be used.
- There
is no excuse to men's violence against women. Its use is not justifiable
under any circumstances.
- Men
using violence should be accountable for their violent behaviour and
its consequences.
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Nature
and Causes of Men's Violence (M. Kaufman)
- There
are competing explanations to men's violence against women: biological
(nature) versus psychological/social (nurture).
- Anthropological
research points out that violence is not a human inevitability.
- Regardless,
violence is used by men to have power over women.
- Causes
of men's violence (the 7 "P"s):
- Patriarchal power
- Privileges
- Permission
- Paradox of men's power
- Psychic armor of manhood
- Pressure cooker
- Past experiences
General
responses
- Key
persons in the medical and legal systems are trained.
- Women's
crisis centers are established.
- Support
from men in terms of fund provision is sought.
- Quality
environment in the workplace and school is sought.
- Good
and systematic research is put in place.
- Images
in the mass media concerning masculinity and femininity are modified.
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Socialization
of Men that Leads to Gender Violence
Singapore
- Dwelt
on macro systems factors:
For
example:
"Singapore society socializes men to take responsibility and
dominance."
"National military service for men."
Vietnam
- Focused
on the family system factors:
For
example:
"Vietnam society accords high respect for men, but not for
women and children."
"Family integration and unity attracts greater priority than
individual concerns."
Philippines
- Focused
on factors concerning the agents of socialization: the family, school
and the mass media systems; and peer groups and cliques.
For
example:
"Filipino teachers reinforce traditional gender roles in schools."
"The roles of the media in perpetuating violence are two way:
either it encourages violence or merely reflects the violence prevailing
in society."
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Intervention
Schemes Among Men Who Use Violence
Cambodia
- Institution-based
(Crisis Center) and outreach (police, local authorities and villagers).
- Offered
a general description of strategies and activities.
Thailand
- Hotline
counselling for men. In details, described male clients and then compared
them with female clients across a number of indicators.
- Some
lessons and insights offered:
"It is untrue that men do not seek assistance."
"Men struggle with non-traditional power relationships."
"Need to balance between male services and law enforcement."
Indonesia
- Institution-based
(Crisis Center) and outreach.
- Described
the framework underlying the work, providing an emphasis of the elements
at four levels (individual, family, community and state). Stressed
that the elements are dynamic.
- An
observation offered:
"Physical abuse tends to occur less than emotional abuse because
drinking and gambling activities among their men are not marked owing
to religious prohibition."
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Preventive
Measures/Education/Strategies Involving Men and Women
Cambodia
- Cambodian
Men's Network
- Offered
ideas and a framework on how to get men involved, but admitted that
it is difficult to encourage men to participate.
Philippines
- Christian
Healing Encounter Empowering Service (CHEERS)
- Offered
a brief description of their counselling services characterized as
non-directive and client centered.
- Discussed
the Basic Human Methods covering fur phases (experience, understanding,
judgment and decision making).
- Some
lessons and insights offered:
"Lack of proper values."
"Old traditional values have been discarded."
Canada
- White
Ribbon Campaign
- Traced
the development of the campaign, talked about organizational issues
and resources generation; and activities.
- If
the Campaign would be adopted, it was recommended that the effort
should be:
"Non-partisan."
"Covering men from a wide social spectrum."
"Centered on violence against women alone."
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This
workshop was funded by The Canadian International Development Agency
(CIDA) through its Southeast Asia Gender Equity Programme (SEAGEP).
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