MEGEN's MAN (Men Act Now) Campaign

MAN (Men Act Now) Campaign

Men for Gender Equality Now (MEGEN) engages men and boys in the promotion of gender equality, prevention of Sexual & Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and the spread of HIV & AIDS geared towards the realization of social justice. MAN (Men Act Now) Campaign is geared towards mobilizing one million men across Kenya and around the world committing to shun violence and become change agents within their communities in efforts to end all forms of violence.

Why Men?

“Majority of men is not violent, but are silent bystanders when it comes to violence that other men perpetrate. This is as much of a problem as violence itself. Violence thrives on our silence.”

The strategy of engaging men in the campaign for combating violence has been tried in several countries across the globe. Gender sensitive men as fathers, brothers, husbands, sons and responsible citizens and equal partners with women have a role to play in ensuring the prevention of violence and especially Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV). With awareness sensitivity and advocacy skills, they can reach other men to tell them that violence is an affront to masculinity and poses a threat unprecedented in human history. Unequal power relation between men and women is at the heart of the problem and must be addressed.

Men sustain, reproduce and legitimize the majority of social structures that justify the subordination of women, promote unhealthy male behavior and undermine attempts by other men to become involved in social justice initiatives”. Boys on the other hand imitate and adopt what men do.

Men are also gate-keepers of economic, political and socio-cultural resources (the very resources required to implement women’s claims for justice), as well as decision-makers in their households and communities and the key receptive audience (or obstacle). As such they are instrumental in ending all forms of violence.

Men hold power over and control of women’s and their own bodies. Vast majority of perpetrators are men hence the need to engage them in attitudinal change, systems change and behavioral change. The roles and choices men make as individuals inform and shape the manifestation of power in public spaces.

'A deeper understanding is required of the positive role that men can play as allies within the community and as active agents in addressing barriers and resistance to gender equality and social justice.'


"I PLEDGE never to COMMIT, CONDONE or REMAIN SILENT on any form of HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE"