Men’s Affairs Bureau to focus on male suicide, male role models, among five priority areas
-in keeping with theme: ‘Keeping Men and Boys Safe’
The Men’s Affairs Bureau (MAB), in celebrating International Men’s Day, launched a week of activities last Sunday under the theme ‘Keeping Men and Boys Safe’, and the entire programme is geared to reflect the five priority areas identified under this theme.
These five areas were highlighted by MAB Administrator Diego Alphonso at the Theatre Guild on Sunday in his opening remarks at the ‘Magnificent Man 3’ programme which included a cultural display of male talents in all genres as well as discussions on male-related issues in Guyanese society.
The five priority areas highlighted were: keeping men and boys safe by tackling male suicide; keeping boys safe so as to become tomorrow’s role models; tackling tolerance of violence against men and boys; boosting men’s life expectancy by keeping men and boys safe from avoidable illness and death; and keeping men and boys safe by promoting fathers and male role models.
Alphonso declared: “We are so used to seeing men as protectors and providers but how often do we consider our actions and what we can do to protect men and boys from harm and provide them with a safe world where they can strive and prosper.”
MAB in COLLABORATION WITH WAB
In a telephone interview Tuesday morning, Alphonso told the Guyana Chronicle that the week of activities is expected to conclude with several roadside presentations around Greater Georgetown on November 24. This schedule is geared to allow the MAB to collaborate with the Women’s Affairs Bureau (WAB)for their sixteen days of activities with regard to the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, to be observed on November 25.
Aside from their routine activities, MAB intends to host several roadside presentations highlighting male-related issues, setting up big screens around Greater Georgetown at locations men are known to congregate and socialize.
They also scheduled panel discussions based on the theme of International Men’s Day with an emphasis on domestic violence, interpersonal violence and male suicide which are more relevant to the Guyanese society. This was expected to be aired on NCN Channel 11 yesterday at 20:30hrs; and later on TVG Channel 28 on Friday, November 22 at 19:30hrs.
Recently, there have been alarming numbers of domestic violence fatalities with men being the main perpetrators. In an address to all men in Guyana, Alphonso said: “Violence and suicide is not the solution to your problems, however, it is becoming a major problem in our society.”
He is also urging all men to visit the Men’s Affairs Bureau located in the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security at Lot 1 Water and Cornhill Street Georgetown.
Counselling is provided for men who feel that they are being victimized, that they are not being heard and so on. Counselling sessions are offered as a part of the Men’s Affairs Bureau programmes and services, particularly their outreach programme.
International Men’s Day is celebrated in over 70 countries worldwide, however, it’s not an official UN observance. It’s an occasion for all individuals to celebrate men, their achievements and contributions, specifically their contributions to community, family, marriage, and childcare while highlighting the discrimination and stereotypes against them.
(By Tash Van Doimen)
