WomanACT welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the development of Canada’s first Men and Boys’ Health Strategy. As an organization dedicated to ending gender-based violence (GBV) and advancing gender equity, engaging men and boys in preventing Gender-based Violence (GBV), including Family Violence (FV) and Intimate partner Violence (IPV) is both a public health priority and a critical component of violence prevention.
While gender-based violence disproportionately affects women and girls, a comprehensive approach to men’s health should also examine how harmful gender norms shape men’s experiences, attitudes, relationships, and help-seeking behaviours, while supporting their role as allies in prevention efforts. Improving men’s health should not be viewed as separate from advancing gender equality. Rather, these goals are interconnected.
Canada has an opportunity to develop a men and boy’s health strategy that advances health equity through a public health approach grounded in primary prevention, gender-transformative practice, and the social determinants of health. By addressing the root causes of both poor health outcomes and gender-based violence rather than symptoms alone, Canada can strengthen protective factors, reduce inequities, and foster healthier, safer communities for everyone.