The East New Britain Provincial Health Authority (ENBPHA) male advocates are continuing to receive vital capacity-building support to promote gender equity, prevent violence against women, and to foster an inclusive workplace.
This progress is made possible by the PNG-Australia Transition to Health (PATH), which provides full funding support for the Wok Wantaim Man program.
Thanks to this ongoing partnership, the male advocates are now nearing completion of their six required training sessions.
Recently, the advocates participated in a two-day session on “Shared Responsibilities and Caregiving and Building Allyship.”
The sessions focused heavily on promoting men’s meaningful participation in caregiving and domestic labor and to further support them to act as positive allies in their communities.
Male Advocacy Consultant and facilitator Emmanuel Ginis noted that the program started three years ago and remains an ongoing commitment and process of change where these men continue to practice.
“I thank the men for their continuous commitment for the ongoing conversations where you do yourself reflections of your own actions and behaviors and identify which of these to apply as role models,” said Mr. Ginis.
He emphasized that this makes it easier for the advocates to carry out the advocacy role in their respective areas of influence.
“When you talk and go out to the communities, exercising your advocacy and talking from your experience, there certainly will be effects on others.”
“We cannot do it alone, rather, build alliances and networks that can support each other to address issues.”
The relentless efforts by these trained male advocates are slowly showing results of political intervention at the ward and Local Level Government (LLG) level with leaders becoming involve.
Notably, the Reimber LLG in the Gazelle District, is one that has embraced the Wok Wantaim Man initiative.
Meanwhile, President Benedict Warwakai, who attended the two sessions as a guest participant, highly commended the advocates for their years of hard work.
“This is the way forward that the Provincial Government will support,” he said. “The onus is on us to provide the political influence to effectively implement to the entire population.”
“I believe when at our political stance, the works of male advocacy will become possible as a driving tool for Gender Based Violence (GBV) and Gender Equality.”
Furthermore, President Warwakai praised and acknowledged the full support of PATH, the Provincial Health Authority, and the facilitators for the endless hard work.
“The continuous support on such programs for a healthy community, society and population, certainly is contributing immensely to the behavioral attitudes.”
Looking ahead, the Wok Wantaim Man program has one final session remaining to develop the facilitator guide equipped with the necessary information to help with the male advocacy work in church and work programs and awareness in the community.
