UN 'barbershop' conference aims to dispel stereotypes, promote gender equality

The Barbershop Conference aimed at reflecting the casual setting in which men get their hair cut, while delving deeper into gender stereotypes perpetuated by social norms, and helping dispel the fallacy that women and girls cannot be equals in the economic, social or political life.

The event also highlighted that while historically women and girls have led the fight against gender inequality, discrimination and gender-based violence, the recent UN HeforSheinitiative encourages men and boys to stand at forefront of the global discourse.

“Today’s Conference is a creative way of moving the dialogue into uncharted territory,” saidSam Kutesa, President of the UN General Assembly, who was joined at the event by UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson, Executive-Director of UN Women Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, several UN Ambassadors, Ministers, civil society representatives, journalists, and activists, as well as entertainers.

“Increasingly, the world has come to recognize that achieving gender equality will require the active participation of all segments of society and that men and boys have a critical role to play,” said Kutesa, noting that he was happy to add his voice to the Barbershop initiative and also make the empowerment of women and girls a key priority of his General Assembly session.

Among other things, the initiative aims to supports non-discriminatory and non-sexist male attitudes between men, commit to discussing the role of men in realizing gender equality within the UN, and further engage men to end violence against women and girls.

“This must be the biggest barbershop conversation ever,” Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson said, emphasizing that today’s discourse came at an opportune time to “jolt our thinking” as the world prepares to marks the 20th anniversary of the Beijing World Conference on Women, held in 1995.

“The Secretary General and I are convinced that this has to be the century of women and girls,” he added.

And while there is ample evidence that society gains and grows socially, economically, politically and even psychologically as a result of gender equality, women’s participation in politics and the labour force continues to remain “too low”. When women lack economic autonomy, their rights are undermined.

“Until we have a better balance among lawmakers, it will be difficult to achieve that balance in real life,” Eliasson said, urging men to bring forth transformative change, end sexist behaviour and eradicate violence against women.

The emancipation of women is the emancipation of mankind as a whole, he said. “We all benefit, we are all empowered. This is potentially a liberating moment for all of us so let’s seize it.”

Delivering today’s welcoming remarks were Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland, and Ismanto Adna, Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs of Suriname – both co-conveners of the event. Introductions were made by UN Permanent Representatives of Romania and the State of Palestine.

“All the male ministers in Iceland have signed up for HeforShe initiative,” said Sveinsson, Iceland’s Foreign Minister.

On a personal note, he added: “As a father of five boys, I’m conscious of making them useful and productive in society…that means [showing that] being a real man does not mean being a wild man…it is about establishing healthy relationships with women and even other men.”

“You may wonder why two such different countries have joined forces to combat violence and gender inequality. We say: why not? It is a testament to the fundamental issue at hand. We see the common cause and are prepared to work for it,” said Adna, the Minister of Suriname.

Closing the first day of the conference, the head of UN Women,  Mlambo-Ngcuka, said today’s Barbershop is about breaking social norms that oppress women and restrict men and boys. And the HeforShe campaign is about both men and women getting outside of their comfort zone.

“It is not enough to be a good boy and a good man in a bad system. Our challenge is to change the system because a bad system will always bring a good man down,” she said.

“We’re in this for the long-haul.”  Mlambo-Ngcuka said, underscoring that the post 2015-framework must create a world that will be totally different by 2030.

“We are asking you to stand up and speak out so that you can create more Barbershop conversations of this nature.”