International Men's Day (IMD) is an annual international
event celebrated on 19 November. Inaugurated in 1992 on 7 February by Prof
Thomas Oaster, the project was re-initialised in 1999 in Trinidad and
Tobago. The longest running celebration of International men's day is
Malta, where events have occurred since 7 February 1994.
International Men's Day finds support from a variety
of individuals and groups in Australia, the Caribbean, North America, Asia, Europe and Africa. Speaking
on behalf of UNESCO, Director of Women and Culture of Peace Ingeborg
Breines said of IMD, "This is an excellent idea and would give some gender
balance." She added that UNESCO was looking forward to cooperating with
the organizers. The objectives of celebrating an International Men's Day
include focusing on men's and boys' health, improving gender relations, promoting gender
equality, and highlighting positive male role models. It is an occasion to highlight
discrimination against men and boys and to celebrate their achievements and
contributions, in particular for their contributions to community, family,
marriage, and child care. The broader and ultimate aim of the event is to
promote basic humanitarian values.
International Men's Day is celebrated in over 70
countries, including Antigua and Barbuda, Australia,
Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Burundi, Canada, the Cayman Islands,
China, Croatia, Cuba, Denmark, France, Ghana, Grenada, Hungary, India, Ireland,
Italy, Isle of Man, Jamaica, Malta, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Romania, Saint
Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, Tanzania,
Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, the United States, and
Zimbabwe, on 19 November, and global support for the celebration is broad.
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