In efforts to achieve gender equality and elimination of violence against women, the involvement of men and boys is seen increasingly as important new trend. Men make up over 90% of the perpetrators of violence perpetrated against women and to develop solutions, in particular when attempting to change engrained attitudes which promote and perpetuate gender inequality, targeting men becomes crucial. The question of what about the men? has plagued the women’s movement, in particular those directing their services at women only, for a long time. However it is important to realize that the women’s movement and in particular those working towards the elimination of violence against women have had to create the ground work in determining the various dynamics of violence against women before bringing male players into the arena.

 Violence against women is largely perpetrated by men and stems form the inequalities that exist between men and women. Theses inequalities are compounded by religious and cultural beliefs and practices: and are so institutionalized that initial work on violence against women have struggled to make inroads while experiencing backlash and resistance for, various quarters. What this work has achieved is best encompassed in the UN Declaration on the elimination of Violence against Women.

 The Declaration says that Violence against Women:

• Violates women’s human rights and fundamental freedoms
• Results form historically unequal power relations between men and women
• Is a social mechanism that forces women into subordinate position compared to men
• Is pervasive in the family and society and cuts across lines of income, class and culture
• Limits women’s opportunities to achieve legal, social, political and economic equality