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o Promoting Gender-equitable Institutional Cultures and Practices
Changing organisational and institutional practices can have a significant
impact on community norms. Public agencies, development organizations,
employers, among others, should lead by example and have special
responsibilities to set standards by implementing:
� Firm sexual harassment policies, standards of conduct and
accountability mechanisms;
� More gender balance at management levels;
� Family-friendly working practices, such as paternity and maternity
leave, flexible working hours for both women and men, and childcare
provision with both male and female staff (Lang 2003); and
� Sensitive and responsive employee policies (i.e. related to work
schedule flexibility to seek medical attention, counselling or legal
assistance; job security for absenteeism after an incident of violence)
and proactive measures to make information and referrals available to
staff who are survivors/victims of gender-based violence and may
need services and other supports.
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Encourage senior male managers in public and private institutions to
become visible advocates of gender equality and of zero tolerance for
violence against women and girls
This is important in its own right and may also prove to be a key step in
changing the attitudes of staff members who may be unsure about new
gender policies (Lang 2003).
In both Canada and Brazil, the Heads of State declared national days (6
December) for men working to end violence against women, which has
contributed to raising awareness on and demonstrating public commitment to
the issue.
In the United States, with the support of key non-governmental
organizations, the then Senator Joseph Biden from Delaware spearheaded
the drafting and passing of historic federal legislation, the Violence Against
Women Act of 1994. As Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee, he also co-sponsored the introduction of the International
Violence Against Women Act in 2008, a first-ever piece of legislation that
would extend the United States‟ efforts to address gender-based violence
through its overseas development assistance programmes. The latter also
refers explicitly to engaging and educating men and boys.
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Examples of programmes promoting gender-equitable organizational
practices
Oxfam‟s Gender Equality and Men (GEM) Project
Men and Boys Knowledge Module January 2012 48