Brave Men Campaign: ‘Real Men’ fight for equality

When we think about women's rights, a stereotypical image of protests, conferences and meetings led by women often come to mind. But can we imagine hundreds of school-going boys taking to the streets, expressing their pledge to prevent violence against women (VAW) and girls? Not only that – imagine them visiting every household in their village and encouraging their neighbours to end gender-based violence. This revolutionary picture can be seen in many of the villages of Pabna, Sirajganj and Natore districts of Bangladesh. 

It is the outcome of Dr. Sayed Saikh Imtiaz's BraveMen Campaign (BMC), an action research that tries to develop the most effective strategies to end VAW involving young men and boys in schools. The campaign is being run by Dr. Imtiaz's team at the Centre for Men and Masculinities Studies (CMMS) in more than 50 schools in rural areas and also in Dhaka.  
Raisul Islam Shuman, a student of sixth grade of Chhaikola High school, in a remote village of Pabna district, is now once such advocate of women's rights. "After going to school and a hard day's work in the paddy fields, I didn't have much time to think about the injustices in society," says Shuman. "But when I was introduced to BMC, I began to reflect on the ways in which society's perceptions of women are biased – how it treats me and my sister differently. I wanted to do my part to change the way women are treated." 

Shumon's changing perceptions of gender did not go unnoticed by his younger sister, Afsana Begum. 
A beaming Afsana notes, "One day, I found my brother washing dishes and towels – chores which either our mother or I always do. I was astonished to see this change in him and asked what had happened! He looked a bit embarrassed but he kept on washing. He is also taking an interest in me, asking me whether anyone disturbs me on my way to school. He tells me to dedicate more time to studying than to doing domestic chores." 

Raisul Islam, a Brave Man

The BraveMen campaign, organised by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), includes a series of co-curricular activities aimed at developing a positive mindset among school children, especially young boys like Shuman, regarding the rights of women and girls. Every participant has to maintain a diary called 'Brave Man Diary' where he narrates and reflects on how he interacts with and treats his female acquaintances on a daily basis. 
For instance, in a section of the diary called 'My Mother', the participant is encouraged to think about his mother's contribution to the family. He then reads a story about the struggles and contribution of a mother and notes down his impressions. After that, the participant is asked to help his mother with her chores and note down the details in the diary. He shares his new experience with his male classmates and encourages them to do the same at least for a day. 

Dr. Imtiaz believes that it is important to reach out to young students as they develop a particular notion regarding women during these formative years. He says, "We tolerate violence against women because it is not visible to us; we, as men, do not pay attention to it. When we talk with the fresher boys about what their parents do, all of them reply that their fathers work and mothers stay at home. But, after working for at least a day in the household helping their mothers, when the same question is asked, they say both of their parents work." 

Recently, all these participants observed Women's Day with colourful processions and bicycle rallies in their towns and villages. Female students have also been included in the campaign to make them conscious of their own rights. 

Regarding the future of the BMC, Dr. Imtiaz reveals, "In the next couple of years I want to dedicate my time to set up the BraveMen Network involving the youth and different kinds of organisations. I hope that BraveMen Campaign can become a global campaign involving millions of youth from different countries. I am optimistic that through BMC we shall be able to create a new generation of young men who will be brave enough to protest all forms of violence against women and girls." 

Writer's Info:
Name: Md Shahnawaz Khan Chandan
Newspaper: The Daily Star
Country: Bangladesh
Email: shahnawaz.khan@thedailystar.net

Project Contact: 

Sayed Saikh Imtiaz Ph.D.  
Associate Professor, Department of Women and Gender Studies, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh & Chairperson, Center for Men and Masculinities Studies (CMMS) 
Email: simtiaz00@yahoo.com
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/BraveMenCampaign?ref=hl\