MALE gender activists: a conversation with David Makala

In several sessions throughout the day, I find myself in the room with the same person. Apparently my interests are similar to his... In the last session of the day, I sit next to him. I find out that he is called David Makala and that he is a Gender and Development Practitioner from Tanzania. One of the very few African men that I have seen at the CSW. In the room at this last session of the day, the atmosphere is tense… an activist vibe is detectible, especially when a lady stands up and shouts “Patriarchy has figured us [women’s activists and feminists] out!”. I wonder what this does to him, as a man, to be a women’s, or rather gender activist amongst so many women who seem to have a rather negative attitude towards men.

“Patriarchy is a monster, but we should not be afraid”

David tells me that there is no way, men can be successful without women, neither can women without men. “I come from a gender perspective, we need to tackle this monstrous Patriarchy together”, says David. “You know, poor men suffer just as much as women, patriarchy impacts girls and women, but also boys and men”. Therefore he believes that men should take greater part in important negotiations and discussions on gender equality such as during the CSW. Because, when men are not part of the equation, we will be going in circles and little structural progress will be made in reaching an improved position for girls and women in the world of today.

Girls-Boys Dialogue

I expected another session called Girls-Boys dialogue to respond exactly to that desire: putting both boys/men and girls/women into the equation. The session was particularly for youth under 18 and surprisingly the room was quickly filled. Where have all these youth been in the past few days? I quickly understand why I haven’t heard or seen them. None of the about 100 youth really stands out and guides the discussion. Girls are too shy and boys lean back. What can spur these youngsters to start a Third Wave of Feminism or should we rather call it ‘Genderism’?

Comments

The CSW68 is a wrap!

Met Nederlands ambassadeur en CSW Facilitator Yoka Brandt op de foto na afloop van de CSW68 “We have reservations on the text. We don’t have instructions to proceed to adoption .” After seven days of negotiations at the UN during this year’s Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), Nigeria almost blocked the negotiated outcome document from being adopted. Almost, because after some formal and informal interventions in Conference Room 4, the Nigerian delegate, flanked by the Dutch Ambassador Yoka Brandt, added: “I now have instructions to support the adoption.” On the balcony filled with civil society as well as in the plenary room there was a clear sigh of relief followed by enthusiastic applause, hugging and photo taking. We have Agreed Conclusions ! Early negotiations As usual, the CSW negotiations process started early February with a Zero Draft , developed by UN Women and the CSW Bureau. And with input and inspiration taken from the Secretary General Report. For the EU, as

CSW68 Youth Dialogue statement by Fenna Timsi

Dutch youth representative Fenna Timsi gives her statement in the CSW68 Youth Dialogue On Thursday afternoon, 14 March 2024, the Dutch youth representative Fenna Timsi gave her statement in the CSW68 Youth Dialogue inside the UN. The reflections from several participants of this year's Youth Dialogue - the second ever as part of the CSW - were that it has much improved compared to last year. Importantly, many more of the people who were given the floor were actually young people themselves. Many of the statements were rich and relevant in content with clear and important messages for the government delegates in the other room in the UN who had started the negotiations for the outcome document. Read Fenna's statement below or see the full Youth Dialogue here (Fenna's statement is at 1:20:10). Dear all, As the Dutch UN Youth Representative, I thank you to speak independently on behalf of young people in the Netherlands, not on behalf of the government. I spoke to many yo

Blog #4 by Sanne: We need progress on Loss & Damage!

Today the CSW’s main outcome document, the Agreed Conclusions, continued. At this CSW66, it is not only essential that we move forward on gender equality issues, but also on climate, environmental and disaster-risk reduction action! We need to connect to existing discussions in different UN-spaces to ensure that our discussions here in New York strengthen our intersectional, transformative climate action and that gender equality is central. Because we want this CSW to ensure that we deal with environmental & climate crises as coherently and strongly as possible. We can’t wait any longer!

WO=MEN in New York

Search This Blog