Violence against women is not only a women's issue. It is a social issue that requires the participation and responsibility of all members of society, including men.
But what responsibilities do men have in addressing violence against women? Is their responsibility limited to not committing violence themselves, or should they also respond to violent behaviour, discrimination and inequalities within families and communities?
When discussing women's rights and social change, family, tradition and religion are often presented as barriers facing women. However, these same structures can also become part of the process of change.
The family can be the first place where respect and equality are taught. Men can play a role in changing attitudes and behaviours that contribute to discrimination or violence against women, both within families and in wider society, including through the way children are raised.
Traditions can also be reconsidered and reinterpreted, while religious values and resources can be used to challenge violence and support women's dignity and rights.
Social change does not necessarily mean abandoning a community's identity, culture or beliefs. Sometimes change begins within the community itself through dialogue, criticism and reconsideration of unequal attitudes and practices.
The central question is how men can move from being observers of women's issues to becoming active participants in challenging violence and discrimination.
What responsibility do men have in building a society where women enjoy respect, safety and equal rights?
In this part of the live discussion “Baloch Women and the Question of Change,” Fariba Baloch speaks with Mohammad Rigi Derakhshan, a Baloch writer and researcher, about men's responsibilities in addressing violence against women and the importance of their participation in social change.
The discussion focuses on cooperation between women and men in challenging violence, changing discriminatory attitudes and using existing community resources to support women's rights.