Masculinities and peacebuilding: a policy and programming agenda

All around the world, men are the primary perpetrators of violence, making up 95 per cent of people convicted of homicide, as well as being the majority of combatants in conflicts.

However, this does not mean that men are naturally more violent than women: rather, socially constructed gender norms in most cultures associate violence with men and boys in a way that it is not associated with women and girls. Furthermore, these gender norms can play a role in driving conflict and insecurity.

Based on research into the reasons behind this, our briefing Masculinities and peacebuilding: a policy and programming agenda argues that peacebuilders should include efforts to promote notions of masculinity which favour non-violence and gender equality in their programming. It summarises the key findings and recommendations or a longer research report, 'Masculinities, conflict and peacebuilding: perspectives on men through a gender lens'.

Using case studies from Colombia, Kosovo, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan, the briefing aims to advance discussions about integrating a masculinities perspective into peacebuilding policy and practice.

Masculinities and peacebuilding makes recommendations to key actors, including:

• examine gender perspectives during conflict analysis, looking at men and boys from a gender viewpoint
• develop theories of change and pilot programming approaches that begin challenging masculine gender norms
• mainstream a masculinities perspective in international security and development interventions, examining how activities are influencing masculinities
• advance the women, peace and security agenda, as efforts to promote and realise women’s rights and efforts to break the links between gender norms and violence should be mutually reinforcing.

Download Masculinities and peacebuilding: a policy and programming agenda

Download the full research report Masculinities, conflict and peacebuilding: perspectives on men through a gender lens

“The role masculinities play in conflict dynamics is rarely analysed by international donors, policymakers or peacebuilding practitioners.”

Hannah Wright