The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection in collaboration with local and international #He4She Campaigners with support from partners, hosted the sixth All Men Conference on Friday, December 8, at the EJS Ministerial Complex in Congo Town.

The conference was in commemoration of the  International Men’s Day (IMD) which is being celebrated every year on November 19 globally.

The All Men’s Conference is Liberia’s version of the International Men’s Day, a global event in recognition of male contributions towards family lives and societal stability in relation to gender equity and equality. The day was also commemorated to intensify advocacy on male’s involvement and engagement in the fight to eliminate and abolish Gender-Based-Violence and to promote positive Masculinity as well as parental alienation, abuse, homelessness, suicide, violence and male’s health in general. 

The one-day gathering brought together participants from several high schools across Monrovia, civil society organizations as well as partners and the Liberian media. The day was being observed in other counties across Liberia.

In an effort to combat Gender-Based Violence in Liberia, the MGCSP and Partners amongst others, decided and included in the activities of the 16-Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence the All-Men Conference. 

The International Men’s Day was celebrated under a Global Theme: “Zero Male Suicide” and with Liberia commemorating the day under a National Theme: “Stop Male Suicide, End Violence Against Women, Girls and Children.”

The objective of the All-Men’s Conference are to promote positive male role models; not just movie stars and sports men but every day, working-class men who are living decent and honest lives; to celebrate men’s positive contributions to society, organization, community, family, marriage, child care, and the environment; to focus on men’s health and wellbeing: social, emotional, physical, and spiritual; to improve gender relations and to promote gender equality and To create a safer, better world, where people can be safe and grow to reach their full potential.

Although International Men’s Day is a ‘gender focused’ event, it also highlights issues that are considered unique to both men and women. It emphasizes on the importance of men becoming positive role models in society.

The day is also meant to highlight the valuable contributions of eminent men who foster the aspect of mentorship, nurturing, and the motivation of their peers and younger men to adhere to the culture of positive masculinity. The day aims to advocate to end gender-based violence and endeavors to remove the negative stigma associated with men being labeled as perpetrators of SGBV/GBV in our society. 

On this basis, men’s engagement and involvement as champions to end violence against women, girls, children, and gender equality in general is key to the full attainment of their rights and to bring an end to all forms of violence against women, girls, and children in society.

Consequently, Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) remains a deep-rooted problem that has affected and destroyed the lives of current and future generations and needs to be addressed promptly and effectively in a collective approach.

At the observance of the International Men’s Day Tamba F. J. Johnson, the Founder and National Coordinator of He4She Crusaders Liberia, says If violence should be eradicated, Liberia must ensure that the issue of male contribution positively and the issue of male mental health being addressed in Liberia.

In an engagement with the media following the official program, Tamba F. J. Johnson, articulated: “Those that say to male don’t cry, are contributing to their own problems. This is what the conversation is about, violence is not only perpetrated against women, but it is also perpetrated against men. If violence should be eradicated, we must ensure that the issue of male contribution positively and the issue of male mental health being addressed in Liberia.”

Tamba: “The significance of International Men’s Day is to spark the contributions of male over the time, especially in their homes  communities and what should be the role of men in order to become a supportive partner  in the home.”

The International Men’s Day has been celebrated in Liberia since 2018. Tamba says it is intrinsically intended to flag out the issue of men’s role in the home and the contributions of men. This is because he says often people don’t under that men are positively contributing in their homes. “Every time you hear make violence, you will always see negative aspect of it, what are those positivities of male in the homes? We need to flag it out. The second thing we are doing during the celebration is to flag issues of male mental health that is contributing to that of their abusive nature within their homes.”

Tamba: “Often, we don’t pay attention to male mental health, and all of us in this community, all of us in this world, we have some mental disorderliness. Are we paying attention to them? No! We need to start the conversation around what are the contributing factors making make to be toxic in their communities or in their homes?”

Moreover, he emphasized: “You go around communities today you will see many men who are mentally unstable, you see them on the streets, are we paying attention to that? No! We see people who are traumatized in the communities, they are all over in the streets.” In his opinion, some of these have led to the repeated acts of violence that have been perpetrated by men.

Because of this, he says the International Men’s Day is held annually and to also put government’s feet to the fire in order to ensure the needed remedy (ies).

“Those that say to male don’t cry, are contributing to their own problems. This is what the conversation is about, violence is not only perpetrated against women, but it is also perpetrated against men. If violence should be eradicated, we must ensure that the issue of male contribution positively and the issue of male mental health being addressed in Liberia.”

Roosevelt S. Klafleh, Assistant Minister for Research, Policy, and Planning at the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, acknowledged men’s agony but made a call to action against violence and discrimination against women, as they celebrate international Men’s Day.

Klafleh: “We are encouraged every man, the child that is raped out there could be your daughter, the child raped out there could be your niece, the woman raped out there could be your sister,  the woman raped out there could be your wife. We want you to under, Rape is no decent thing, we need to stop it.” He urged: “I’m asking every man in this Republic to come to call to action, as we celebrate international Men’s Day.”

He adds- “As we reflect on the International Men’s Day, I want us to understand that there’s a call to action for the men to be able to take the role, the lead role in the protection of women and their daughters or girls and children.

In the religious setting, he says women were classified as men’s partners, but in the cultural setting, they were considered as slaves. “They were classified like the shirt that’s on me today, I want it so I do whatever I want.” With this, he says the cultural ideology still has an impact, amid the different laws that have been passed regarding the protection of women’s rights.

Klafleh: “Today, we have passed the land rights act, that have granted women the right to property, to land, that we are squatting on, that we are yet to own, but we feel that the lands, as it aligns with family line, belong to the men and not to the women. This is total disparity, this is discrimination at the highest level and we men need a call to action to stop all these things.” However, he acknowledged that men do go through crisis, but because of what he termed as stolen power,  they often don’t voice it out.