Participants at the ongoing four-day workshop on advancing positive masculinities, organised by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), have been urged to exercise caution while conducting advocacy on sensitive issues such as child marriage, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
Delivering a presentation on Day Two of the workshop, Dr. Olusegun Medupin emphasised the need for advocates to ensure their interventions do not unintentionally harm the very communities they seek to support. He noted that while advocacy is a powerful tool for driving positive social change, it must be handled with a deep understanding of cultural norms and community sensitivities.
Dr. Medupin warned that any advocacy perceived as culturally disrespectful or insensitive could lead to a loss of trust, resistance, and even withdrawal by the community, ultimately undermining long-term progress. He stressed that maintaining trust is central to achieving sustainable change.
He further advised participants to prioritise their own wellbeing, reminding them that physical and mental fatigue during advocacy engagements could hinder their effectiveness and compromise results.
During the session, participants broke into state-based groups for stakeholder mapping exercises and the development of advocacy plans tailored to the peculiarities and needs of their respective communities.
poo
UNFPA officials at the workshop, Bahijja Bello Garko and Karima Bungudu entertained questions from participants.
The workshop continues with more sessions aimed at strengthening participants’ capacity to promote positive masculinities and support gender-equitable social transformation.