A Journey to Manhood: A Regional Strategy for Engaging Men and Boys in Ending VAWG in Central Asia

Engaging men and boys in promoting gender equality and eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls (VAWG) is a critical priority of the Spotlight Initiative. The Spotlight Initiative is a global initiative of the United Nations which has received generous support from the European Union. It aims to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls. One of the six key pillars of the Spotlight Initiative is ‘Prevention,’ which involves engaging men and boys in the ‘promotion of gender-equitable norms, attitudes, and behaviors.’ A Journey to Manhood: A Regional Strategy for Engaging Men and Boys in Ending VAWG in Central Asia provides guidance on the key entry points to engaging men and boys throughout the life course. The regional strategy is informed by the UNFPA Situational Analysis of Men and Gender Equality in Central Asia developed for five Central Asian countries – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan – who are beneficiaries of the Spotlight Initiative Regional Program for Central Asia and Afghanistan. The Situational Analysis synthesized and summarized the evidence on how governments currently address men’s engagement in laws, policies, and national action plans; analyzed prevalent gender-related attitudes, perceptions, and practices of men and women in the region; and summarized the best and most promising practices on engaging men and boys.