Men As Peacemakers

Minnesota Men's Action Network

What Men Can Do

Men are in a particularly unique position to help change the social norms that create the environment in which sexual violence occurs. Since men commit over 90% of the violence, we need men to help with the solution. A broad network of men is needed to align with the voices and historically groundbreaking activities of women to prevent sexual violence. Our communities, friends, and families need:

• Men with the strength, concern, and commitment to prevent sexual violence.
• Men who will promote fair and safe relationships.
• Men who create and support healthy sexuality.
• Men who will promote organizational practices and institutional policies that respect the dignity of every human being, not as sexualized objects to use, exploit, and discard, but as persons with inalienable rights and opportunities to choose the circumstances of their lives.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has chosen to make the prevention of sexual violence a priority and to build a public/private prevention effort that promotes male leadership. To this end, a collaborative effort between the MDH, Men As Peacemakers in Duluth and the Gender Violence Institute in Clearwater has been created to develop a network of men and male leaders involved in primary prevention practices. The Minnesota Men´s Action Network will largely focus on organizational practices and policy changes that can influence the social norms that contribute to sexual violence. We will work with women to make the changes necessary for our communities to become safe places for all people -- women, children and men.