Program H/M:Engaging Young Men and Women in

Transforming Gender Norms in Schools and Communities

Giovanna Lauro, PhD, Deputy DirectorPromundo-US

g.lauro@promundo.org.br / www.promundo.org.br

Can Young Men Change?

• What works to change gender norms?

• What impact do we see in behaviors in changing norms

• How can we scale up?

• What benefits do we see for young women, and for young men themselves?

Context: Rio de Janeiro• 14% of men report paying for sex with a girl under 18• 26% of men have used IPV• High support for rigid norms about men’s and women’s

roles • Low HIV testing among men; high rates of STIs• Young and adult women emphasize need to engage men

How did we implement Program H?

•“Consciousness raising” about masculinity

•Activism and community campaigns led by “resistors”

•Training teachers, health workers to implement

•Building networks of community allies

•Parallel program for young women

LIVEGender-equitable, non-violent and healthy attitudes and behavior in everyday life in a sustained way. This contributes to positive outcomes such as increased condom use and improved SRH; and reduced STIs and HIV/AIDS, gender-based violence and gender equity itself

LEARNthrough questioning and critically reflecting about gender norms, to develop new attitudes and skills

REHEARSEattitude and behavior changes, and new skills in safe environments of group educational sessions

INTERNALIZEnew gender attitudes and norms

SUPPORTING INFLUENCES & STRUCTURESPeer groups questioning and transforming gender norms together;

role modeling of gender-equitable lifestyles, and taking action through advocacy in one’s community and broader levels;

Institutions, structures, services, and policies support these changes

How Program H Works

Impact Evaluation7 Quasi-Experimental studies found:

•Reduction in violence-supportive attitudes (All 7 sites)

•Decrease in sexual harassment (India), and IPV (Brazil and Chile)

•Increased condom use (Brazil, Chile, India)

•Increased participation by men in care work (Brazil)

•Young women in Brazil study reported that male partners treated them with more respect; sought HIV testing; participated in contraceptive use

Scale up of Program H: 22 countries•Community-based youth groups•Workplace•Women’s economic empowerment•Sports-based programming•Youth detention facilities•IDP/refugee camps•SCALING UP: in Brazil, Balkans and India

Remaining Questions

•How to maintain quality of the intervention as we scale up?

•How to engage a broader set of allies in the transformation?

•What are long-term effects of participation in gender-transformative programming for adult relationships?

•How to universalize it?

•How to engage young women and young men?