In the wake of the deaths of 13 women in Bilaspur following botched sterilisation procedures, delegates at the second MenEngage Global Symposium in the capital today called upon men to take responsibility for using contraception.
"Throughout the world sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is considered to be the sole responsibility of women," said Andrew Levack, Deputy Director, US Programs for Promundo.
"What we know from research is that men who hold more traditional notions of masculinity are less likely to use condoms, less likely to report STI symptoms, more likely to see pregnancy as a validation of masculinity, and more likely to use violence against a partner," he said.
"If men were prepared to take on greater responsibility for SRH, the likelihood of tragedies such as the one which has unfolded in Chhattisgarh this week might be reduced," Levack added.
The four day MenEngage Global Symposium saw coming together of a cross section of stakeholders to catalyze changes in gender norms and entrenched notions of masculinity through work with men and boys.
Speaking on the ocassion country host Abhijit Das said that the symposium brought together feminist organisations, academia working on gender issues, government and scores of community and civil society organisations to catalyze change in thousands of men working as auto drivers, members of cooperative society, farmers to cite a few.
"We have infused the entire process with a strong spirit of solidarity," he said.
