For many decades, resilient women and girls who have survived abuse have led the charge against violence. Their advocacy has led to the enactment of laws and policies, yet implementation remains a challenge. The rise of feminist movements, including the renowned #MeToo movement and the Every Woman Treaty, has held several men accountable. Despite these efforts, the stark reality persists for countless women and girls worldwide, who continue to suffer rights violations.
The scourge of violence against women and girls violates their fundamental rights and corrodes our communities’ very foundation. To confront this complex issue, a comprehensive approach is needed that delves into its root causes, including a significant but often overlooked factor: men’s mental health.
In 2020, I launched the Men Can End Violence Campaign to educate men and boys about healthy masculinity and mobilize them against violence towards women and girls. Through my work, I discovered that men and boys are also profoundly impacted by societal norms, often concealing their pain and trauma, contributing to lower reported violence cases against them.
While I firmly advocate for offering female survivors of abuse free access to psychosocial support, as a survivor of child sexual abuse myself, I can attest to the transformative power of proper support in recovery. Yet, I equally emphasize that extending mental health support to men could yield a more sustainable impact than merely addressing the surface symptoms.
The perpetration of violence against women and girls often stems from men grappling with emotional turmoil, unresolved trauma, and societal pressures. Men struggling with mental health issues can become trapped in cycles of aggression and violence, harming themselves and those around them, particularly women and girls. It is essential to recognize that not all men with mental health challenges are violent, but untreated issues can heighten the risk of abusive behavior.
To genuinely eradicate violence against women and girls, global leaders must acknowledge the significance of providing men with accessible psychosocial support and declare the decline in men’s mental health a worldwide crisis.
Effective solutions require understanding that men’s mental well-being is integral to combating gender-based violence. World leaders have a vital role in raising awareness about the connections between mental health and violence. Designating men’s mental health as a global crisis would underscore the urgency and commitment to building a safer, more equitable world.
Men’s mental health should be integrated into policies and programs targeting gender-based violence. Adequate resources and funding must be allocated to establish comprehensive support networks for men’s mental health, preventing their struggles from escalating into violence.
By facilitating men’s access to psychosocial support, encouraging open dialogue, and weaving mental health initiatives into broader policies, we can shatter the cycle of violence, promote healthier masculinity, and forge a world where fear and oppression no longer hold sway.
I hereby make a clarion call to world leaders In the imminent UNGA session themed “Rebuilding trust and Reigniting Global Solidarity: Accelerating Action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals towards Peace, prosperity, progress, and Sustainability for All.” By addressing this critical dimension, we can decisively curb violence against women.
Let’s seize this opportune moment to propel change, recognizing that mental well-being is pivotal to dismantling aggression and promoting healthy masculinity. Elevating men’s mental health in policy agendas aligns with our pursuit of global solidarity and a safer, equitable future. Together, let’s champion this cause and translate words into transformative actions.
Halima Layeni
Halima Layeni is an incandescent Men’s Mental Health advocate, the Founder & Executive Director of the Life After Abuse Foundation, a U.S. Consul General Award Recipient, an Nguvu Collective Changemaker, a 1000 Voices Indrani Women Treaty Fellow and a Carrington Youth Fellow.
