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Dozens of charities, campaigners and academics sign joint letter calling on all parties to support International Men’s Day

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InsideMAN joins dozens of charities, campaigners and academics in signing a joint letter to cross-party equalities representatives calling on ministers to make a public statement in support of International Men’s Day and to consider what action they can take to address issues that affect the well being of men and boys.

Addressed to: Government Ministers, Shadow Ministers and Equalities Spokespeople

  1. Caroline Dinenage MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Women, Equalities and Family Justice
  2. The Rt. Hon Nicky Morgan, Education Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities
  3. Kate Green OBE MP, Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities
  4. Angela Crawley MP, Shadow SNP Spokesperson (Equalities, Women and Children)
  5. Baroness Hussein-Ece OBE, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson forWomen and Equalities
  6. Liz Saville Roberts MP , Spokesperson (Women and Equalities), Plaid Cymru
  7. Jim Shannon MP, Spokesperson (Equality), Democratic Unionist Party
  8. Mr Benali Hamdache, Equalities Spokesperson, The Green Party
  9. Louise Bours MEP, Health Spokesman, UKIP

Subject: Recognition of International Men’s Day (19 November 2015)

As supporters of International Men’s Day in the UK, we invite politicians of all parties to join us in celebrating men and boys in all their diversity each year on 19 November. Many organisations led by men and women across the country are already doing so.

International Men’s Day is a day for highlighting the positive contribution that men and boys make to their families, their communities and the world.

At a time when the role of men in our society is changing and evolving, it is also an opportunity to consider whether the way we talk about men and masculinity in politics, the media and elsewhere is helping or hindering boys to make a healthy transition into manhood.

International Men’s Day provides a platform for politicians to consider what action we can take to address the many social issues that impact men and boys in our country. These include:

  • The high male suicide rate
  • Men’s health and shorter life expectancy
  • The challenges faced by men who are fathers
  • The challenges faced by boys at all stages of education
  • All forms of crime, violence and abuse involving men and boys
  • The challenges faced by the most marginalised men and boys in society (for instance, those sleeping rough and boys in care)
  • The issues of concern to all men and boys with a “protected characteristic” under the Equality Act 2010

We acknowledge that the majority of politicians in the UK are men, but there are very few politicians, male or female, who take time to discuss the men’s issues listed above and put forward political solutions to these problems.

We invite men and women of all political parties to join us in making a public statement of their support for International Men’s Day on 19th November in 2015 and each year thereafter.

Thank you for your consideration and we look forward to receiving a positive reply.

Yours sincerely,

 

Glen Poole, UK Coordinator of International Men’s Day

Mark Brooks, Chair, The ManKind Initiative

Duncan Craig, CEO, Survivors Manchester

Martin Daubney, Journalist, broadcaster and committee member, Being A Man Festival

Ally Fogg, Writer and journalist

Martin Seager, Consultant Clinical Psychologist

Jack Broadley, Founder/Chairman, Baggy Trousers charity

Nick Smithers, National Development Officer, Abused Men in Scotland

Bob Balfour, Founder, Survivors West Yorkshire

Duncan Fisher, former CEO of the Fatherhood Institute

John Adams, Author, Dadbloguk.com

Paul Apreda, National Manager, FNF Both Parents Matter Cymru

Duncan Alldridge, Founder, Deep Diving Men

Kenny D’Cruz, Personal Development Consultant, The Man Whisperer

Dan Bell, Features Editor, insideMan magazine

Dr Nicola Graham-Kevan, Reader in the Psychology of Aggression at UCLAN

Belinda Brown, Research Director at Men for Tomorrow

Gijsbert Stoet, Reader in Psychology, University of Glasgow

Dr Elizabeth A. Bates, Senior Lecturer in Applied Psychology, University of Cumbria

Dr Jessica McCarrick, Chartered Psychologist, Teesside University

Richard Duncker, Founder, Men Do Complain

Peter Morris, Chairman, Men’s Aid (Northern Ireland)

John Barry, Chartered Psychologist and Research Associate at UCL Medical School

Sara Westle, Honorary Patron, The ManKind Initiative

Ian Young, domestic abuse survivor

Paul Chivers, domestic abuse survivor

Gerald Cash, Founder and Chairman, Men Have Rights Too

Kathy Jones joint CEO, The Fatherhood Institute

Adrienne Burgess, joint CEO, The Fatherhood Institute

  • http://bittergubben.wordpress.com bittergubben

    Excellent!

  • http://www.theskirtedman.eu Jeremy Hutchinson

    Yes, excellent. This is what is needed, especially with the momentum on men’s issues built up over the last few years. The discussion and debate in 2015 has I think brought mens issues and International Mens Day right into the heart of British politics. This needs consolidation by those who can apply this pressure with the support of their followers on the political establishment in Government and in Opposition on a regular basis highlighting relevant examples. The many articles written by male and female journalists and in charities like those named above, are great at motivating like minded people even bringing these issues to the unknown but I have often wondered if those who can effect cultural change within the establishment actually read them and if they do laugh them off knowing they are not being challenged directly. It would be even better if the many charities, remaining independent of each other concentrating on their speciality areas, could muster their followers and all speak and show support under one prominent and effective umbrella just like HeForShe.

    You have my support even on issues that do not affect me. I sent a letter on the 6th November 2015 to the Prime Minister about mens issues generally. I have been assured my points are noted and the letter has been passed on to Nicky Morgan MP for a reply. I doubt my letter would move mountains and I will get a standard reply mentioning the inequalities of women, but I for one was getting frustrated that men’s issues were constantly being dismissed and to me, appeared to be ‘laughed off’ by the establishment.

    So well done all the counter signed above. Open it up to your followers and the support will turn out to be like that of the petition by Ruth Morris about celebrating International Mens Day. Recent activities have shown which MP’s do recognise mens issues along side womens, so capitalise and this is just the start.

  • Rick Bradford

    well done, insideMAN

    • Groan

      Short and to the point. Well Done