Raise Men to end violence against Women

Empowering men to become part of the solution, the Equal Community Foundation works to end violence and discrimination against women through gender-equity education, youth leadership programmes, and community engagement initiatives across India.

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Recent headlines detailing gang rapes and other atrocities against women in India have drawn the world’s attention to an unpalatable reality. More than 100 million women continue to face violence and discrimination at the hands of men.

Founded in 2009, the non-profit Equal Community Foundation (ECF) set out to change this reality. The organisation works with the belief that achieving gender equality requires engaging men as part of the solution.

Co-founders Will Muir and Rujuta Teredesai were struck by the prevalence of gender-based violence that results in women’s inequitable access to basic human and civil rights such as education, sanitation, and healthcare. Will explains:

“The traditional approach of women’s empowerment alone is not delivering the required results, as it excludes men—whose attitudes and behaviour sit at the root of the problem—from the solution.”

Violence against women is not just a women’s issue. It is a men’s issue. It is everyone’s issue. Pointing fingers at men or accusing them will not resolve the problem.

Mission and Theory of Change

The mission of ECF is to ensure that every man in India has the opportunity to study and practise gender-equitable behaviour in order to end violence and discrimination against women.

Their theory of change is simple yet powerful:
If men study and discuss the value of women with people they trust, and if they are supported with tools to manage their behaviour by role models they respect, they will:

Reduce their own violent and discriminatory behaviour
Advocate ending violence and discrimination among peers and others
Take personal and collective action to empower women in their lives and communities

This, in turn, accelerates progress toward equality by:

Reducing the violence and discrimination women face
Increasing community resources dedicated to empowering women

Programmes and Impact

Today, ECF has a team of 20 professionals who design and implement innovative behaviour-change programmes for men, conduct research, and build public support for this approach.

ECF’s work is grounded in the belief that:

“Although all men are not a part of the problem, all men need to be a part of the solution.”

Thousands have participated in ECF’s flagship programme, Action for Equality (AfE), which engages boys aged 14–17 across 20 low-income communities in Pune.

Impact:
61% of women living with programme graduates have reported a reduction in violence or discrimination.

The programme aims to create young male leaders who will grow and sustain this movement.

Stories of Change

“He has become more sensitive.”

Shreyas, 14, lives in Gulistan Nagar with five family members. He was part of the fourth cycle of the AfE Graduate Programme.

His mother, Sanjeevani, is a strong supporter of the initiative. She shares:

“Shreyas contributes to household chores. Even earlier he did, but since joining AfE he has become more sensitive and aware about issues concerning women. He dislikes violence against women and speaks up about it. He now makes an effort to share what he has learned and advocate change among boys in our community. That makes me very proud.”

She adds:

“I have watched a couple of Action Events where topics like dowry and street sexual harassment were addressed. They were very informative. There is a real need to talk to both men and women in the community about these issues.”

“He has become more responsible and mature.”

Mehboob, 14, lives in Vikasnagar and is the youngest among his siblings. He studies in Std. 9 and has completed the fourth cycle of the AfE programme. His father, Shahbuddin, is a truck driver, and his mother, Mumtaz, is part of a women’s group called Umang.

Mehboob says:

“I want to continue with ECF. I enjoy performing in Action Events. I am much more confident now. I like organising events as well as performing. I believe men and women should work equally—both inside and outside the home. Even today, many girls don’t get the chance to be educated. This should not happen. Women should not tolerate violence and abuse. The way women are brought up must change. Men must stop violent behaviour against women.”

His mother adds:

“Mehboob and the other boys share a good rapport with their mentor. I’m glad they are learning about important issues and proper behaviour. Mehboob is very helpful at home. It is important for girls to become independent. Just because some men behave violently, why should women stay behind closed doors? The mentality of men must change. Girls should stand firm in their decisions and pursue what they want to do.”

Campaigns and Advocacy

Through fieldwork and research, ECF highlights priority strategies to scale this approach.

The foundation’s Man Up India Campaign, launched in March, emphasises that every individual has a role to play in raising men who will end violence and discrimination against women. Key actors include:

Parents
Teachers
Media professionals

Join the Journey of Change

Do you believe violence against women is a serious issue that affects all of us?
Do you support the approach of raising men to end violence and discrimination against women?

Show your support and join the journey of change. Each one of us has a role to play.

For more details, visit: ecf.org.in