Making a Difference for Men and Boys on November 19, International Men's Day

Expanding Reproductive Options for Men

In 2015, Coordinators for International Men’s Day are inviting people all over the world to use International Men’s Day—Thursday, 19 November 2015—as an opportunity to work together to improve the lives of men and boys all over the globe.
This year’s International Men’s Day theme — “Working To Expand Reproductive Options for Men” —is designed to encourage cooperation in addressing reproductive issues that affect men and boys around the world, such as family planning, men’s limited number reproductive choices, sexual health, and safe sexual practices. We ask if consent to sex is also a consent to fatherhood, or alternatively of how we might improve men’s freedom to choose parenthood through cultural, legal, technological and educational avenues.
On International Men’s Day—Thursday, 19 November 2015—we are inviting people all over the world to host events and initiatives that include:
■ People from diverse backgrounds discussing male reproductive issues.
■ People discussing male reproductive issues unique to a culture or place.
■ Exploration of greater reproductive choices for men, such as;

– Better availability of birth control methods
– Research into new birth-control methods
– Paternity testing
– Family planning

■ Discussion of sexual health and safe sexual practices.
We look forward to people all over the world finding ways to work together that reflect the Six Pillars of International Men’s Day, which means:
– Working together to promote positive male role models
– Working together to celebrate Men’s positive contributions
– Working together to focus on Men’s health and well-being
– Working together to highlight discrimination against males
– Working together to improve gender relations and improve gender equality
– Working together to create a safer, better world.
Founded by men’s rights advocate Professor Thomas Oaster in 1992, and further popularized in 1999 by Jerome Teelucksingh, Ph.D., of the University of West Indies, International Men’s Day celebrates men and boys, and the unique issues they face. Observed in over 70 nations throughout our global village on 19th November of each year, International Men’s Day is the leading platform for highlighting men’s issues and their relevance for the wider culture.
For further information about International Men’s Day, visit the website at www.internationalmensday.co

Our Theme for 2015

Make a Difference for Men and Boys

Objectives of International Men's Day include a focus on men's and boy's health, improving gender relations, promoting gender equality, and highlighting positive male role models. It is an occasion for men to celebrate their achievements and contributions, in particular their contributions to community, family, marriage, and child care while highlighting the discrimination against them.
The November IMD is a significant date as it interfaces the popular 'Movember' charity event and also with Universal Children's Day on Nov 20 with which IMD forms a 48 hour celebration of men and children respectively, and of the special relationships they share.
The ability to sacrifice your needs on behalf of others is fundamental to manhood, as is honour. Manhood rites of passage the world over recognise the importance of sacrifice in the development of Manhood.
Men make sacrifices everyday in their place of work, in their role as husbands and fathers, for their families, for their friends, for their communities and for their nation. International Men's Day is an opportunity for people everywhere of goodwill to appreciate and celebrate the men in their lives and the contribution they make to society for the greater good of all.
Methods of commemorating International Men's Day have included public seminars, conferences, festivals and fundraisers, classroom activities at schools, radio and television programs, Church observances, and peaceful displays and marches. The manner of observing this annual day is optional; any organizations are welcome to host their own events and any appropriate forums can be used.   

International Men's Day is celebrated in over 60 countries of the world. Too many to list. Join us on November 19 in celebrating the contribution men and boys make to those around them, to their family and friends, their work place and the community, the nations and the world.
Dads4Kids is honoured to host the Men's Day website and we invite you to join the global celebrations. Anyone is welcome to quote material from this website (attribution to this website is required), as well as free and open use of our logo and access to new posters in the Resource Section.
Please also feel free to download and use our logos.