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International Men's Day

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International Men's Day is an international event celebrated on November 19 every year. It was inaugurated in 1999 in Trinidad and Tobago and was supported by the United Nations[1], and received in principal support from men's groups in USA, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean.[2] Speaking on behalf of UNESCO, Director of Women and Culture of Peace Ms. Ingeborg Breines said of IMD: “This is an excellent idea and would give some gender balance.” She added that UNESCO was looking forward to cooperating with IMD organisers.[1] The objectives of celebrating an International Men's Day include focusing on men's health, improving gender relations, promoting gender equality, and highlighting positive male role models.[3][4][5] It is an occasion for men to highlight discrimination against them and to celebrate their achievements and contributions, in particular for their contributions to community, family, marriage, and child care.[6][7][4][8][9]

International Men's Day is celebrated in Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Australia, India, United States, Singapore, and United Kingdom on November 19, and global support for the celebration is broad.[3]

History

Trinidad and Tobago were the first to celebrate IMD on the 19th November, 1999. The event was coordinated by Harrack Balramsingh, Chairman of Citizens for a Better Trinidad and Tobago (CBTT), and UWI Lecturer Dr Jerome Teelucksingh and has continued to be celebrated since that date. [10][11]

Australians have celebrated IMD on 19 November since 2003,[12][13] when Phil Gouldson of Men's Health and Wellbeing Association ACT (MHWA) launched the inaugural event after receiving an invitation by Trinidad and Tobago's Harrack Balramsingh to join in the event.[3][4] Australians consider this a very significant date marking the sinking of the cruiser HMAS Sydney during the Second World War, therefore commemorating the largest loss of life in battle on any one day with the death of 645 men off the coast of Geraldton in Western Australia.[14]

Indian Men's rights organisation Save Indian Family have joined in with an inaugural celebration of IMD on 19 November, 2007.[15] As a first step it accepted 19 November as (Indian) International Men's Day based on the fact that cricket rivals Australians and West Indies (Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago) were already doing it. The event was again celebrated in India in 2008, and plans have been made to continue the celebration annually.[16]

In 2001 a number of organizations in The United States and Canada joined in celebrating IMD on 19th November.[17] In 2008 International Men’s Day continues to be celebrated by a number of United States organizations including the Malachi Global Foundation (MGF) in Michigan, which hosted observances of IMD on November 19.[18][dubious – discuss]

In the United Kingdom University of Kent students celebrated International Men's Day at Mungos Bistro on the university campus on November 19. This event was organized and coordinated by the Kent University student organization 'Raise and Give' (or RAG as it is better known). RAG is Kent Union's charitable arm located in the Student Activities Center which raises money for various charities each year. Activities for IMD night included live soccer coverage of England v Germany, comedy acts and live music from student band "Clacket Lane". There was a raffle, a guitar hero competition and an X-box tournament to raise money. About 300 people attended with roughly equal numbers of males and females. All proceeds raised went to ORCHID a charity for all male cancers, including prostate, penile or testicular cancer.[19]

In 2008 a November 19-21 IMD event was organized in Singapore. The Adam Association organised a forum - Definition of a Man- which identified various problems men face at home such as communication issues, and how to overcome them. Held in Malay, speakers included Dr Maliki Osman, Parliamentary Secretary for National Development, and staff members from the Registry of Marriages. The forum was open to the public for free and was held at the Darussalam mosque along Commonwealth Avenue West. Another event, also part of International Men's Day, was the Admiralty Baby Genius and Kids' Fashion contest, held on Sunday at Woodlands. Jointly organised by Adam Association and Ace the Place Community Club Management Committee, activities included a diaper-changing contest for fathers.[20]

As of 2008 the number of countries holding celebrations of International Men's Day in November includes Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Australia, India, United States, Singapore, and United Kingdom.

Themes celebrated

International Men’s Day is a time for men to highlight discrimination against them in areas of health, family law, education, media or other areas and to project their positive contributions and achievements. During past years the method of commemorating International Men's Day included public seminars, classroom activities at schools, radio and television programs, and peaceful displays and marches.[3] The manner of observing this annual day is optional, and any appropriate forums can be used. Early pioneers of IMD reminded that the day is not intended to compete against International Woman's Day, but is for the purpose of highlighting men's experiences.[21] Each year a different theme is highlighted, such as peace in 2002, or men’s health in 2003.[3] In consultation with organizers from other nations, Australian IMD coordinator Phil Gouldson has outlined the following broad objectives of International Men’s Day:

  • Celebrate manhood and the wonderful positive and valuable contributions our men, young men, and boys make to our communities and to our societies
  • Promote and Support gender equality, encouraging men to address responsibly and positively the challenges facing them in society
  • Demonstrate strength of character and courage in meeting the challenges that men face in society and in contributing to building stronger and better communities, where people can be safe and grow to reach their full potential.[9]

In Canberra 2004 Mr. Gouldson asked men in Australia to meet the challenge and wear a red rose for IMD and for women and families to buy the men in their life flowers. He said a red rose is worn by men on IMD as a symbol of strength of character and courage, and as it is unusual to see men being given flowers so it is a good way to highlight the occasion.[22]

One of the promoted themes for the celebration of IMD in Australia is “honour and sacrifice”, particularly as this date coincides with a major loss of male lives in the HMAS Sydney naval tragedy.[14] According to Australian Dads4Kids Organization the ability to sacrifice one's needs on behalf of others is fundamental to manhood and therefore to International Men's Day: "men make sacrifices everyday in their place of work, in their role as husbands and fathers, for their families, for their friends, for their communities and for their nation."[14]

According to Mens Activism News Network having International Men's Day in November also interfaces with 'Movember' - a worldwide moustache growing charity event held during November each year that raises funds and awareness for men's health, one of the key themes promoted on IMD.[23]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b 'UNESCO comes out in Support of International Men's Day', Article Trinidad Guardian Nov 20, 2001
  2. ^ November 19th - International Men's Day. Press Release by Harrack Balramsingh of CBTT, 20th May 2003
  3. ^ a b c d e November 19th - International Men's Day. Press Release by Harrack Balramsingh of CBTT, 20th May 2003
  4. ^ a b c International Men’s Day – Do we care? (2004) Press Release from Men's Health & Wellbeing Association (MHWA) ACT
  5. ^ Join in Celebrating International Men's Day, by Harrack Balramsingh- Letter to the Editor Cayman Net News 13 Nov, 2001
  6. ^ International Men's Day on Nov 19 to highlight plight of men, (2007) Outlook India [1]
  7. ^ Nov 19 Marks National Men's Day, Editorial Malaysian International News Agency 2007.[2]
  8. ^ Red Roses for your Blokes - It'll raise Their self esteem. Article- The Canberra Times 6th November 2004
  9. ^ a b Celebrating International Men's Day - Men's Health and Wellbeing Association, background and objectives 19th Nov 2005
  10. ^ International Men’s Day observed for the 4th consecutive year in TT, CBTT Article Nov 20, 2002 [3]
  11. ^ ‘Addicts need treatment, not jail’ Article- The Trinidad Guardian 29 Nov 2007 [4]
  12. ^ Blokes, it is your turn to celebrate. Article - Canberra Times 20 Nov 2003 [5]
  13. ^ Red Roses for your Blokes - It'll raise Their self esteem. Article- The Canberra Times 6th November 2004
  14. ^ a b c Dads4Kids Organization Australia [6]
  15. ^ November 19 to be International Men's day : Hindustan Times News,(article) 2007
  16. ^ International Men's Day – 19 November, 2008, Press Release of Save the Indian Family, Thursday, 13 November 2008
  17. ^ Men's Day observance well attended. Press Release (2001), Citizens for a Better trinidad and Tobago
  18. ^ International Men's day Celebrations in the U.S., (2008) Press Release by Australian Fatherhood Foundation.
  19. ^ University of Kent Raise and Give newsletter, November 2008 [7]
  20. ^ International Men's Day, article in The Electric New Paper News (Nov 2008)
  21. ^ CBTT co-hosts 2nd International Men's Day, CBTT News Archives [8]
  22. ^ Article- 'Manly respect blooms if you give those blokes a rose', The Canberra Times, November 19th 2004
  23. ^ Men's Activism News Network. Press Release Dec 2008
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