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Introduction
This document begins
to articulate a vision of gender equality and gender justice inside the larger
context of establishing authentic equality for all members of our society. It
seeks not to repudiate the achievements that women have made, nor the work left
to do, but rather, wishes to advance an awareness of the important areas of
systemic discrimination against men. This vision represents our clearest
statement of the unique value and contribution men have made and can continue
to make to society.
Reproductive Rights and
Responsibilities
What we want: A pregnant woman has the legal responsibility to promptly inform
the father of her pregnancy and her intentions. A father will enjoy equal power
with the mother to give up his parental rights and responsibilities through the
legal adoption of his child.
Parenting
What we want: The gender bias in family court will be eliminated, and fathers
will be known, in law and in practice, to be caring, effective and entitled
parents, fully equal to mothers in all respects, and entitled in law to full
access to their children. Equal parenting** arrangements following separation
will the norm.
As to who makes sure that there’s equality there should be
a panel of family, friends, and neighbours to act as gatekeeper to ensure
equality. (Father-presumptive custody is better, because women wouldn't
walk away, but may be difficult to achieve politically.)
Under equal parenting, there should be no exchange of
money whatsoever. Whenever money changes hands, greed replaces altruism
and justice. Never should one person spend what another person earns,
because this leads to careless spending, which in turns leads to enslavement.
The children need us to remove greed from the equation and spend carefully so
as to protect the freedom of all.'
Sexuality
What we want: We want
women and men to share equally in taking responsibility and in the task of
negotiating consent in dating and intimate sexual relationships. Abuse and
false allegations of abuse are equally serious and should carry equal
penalties.
What we
want: We want a government sponsored compensation fund set up to provide money
for men because of genocide which has been committed against them, in war.
Work
What we want: Men are seen as fully competent and equal to women in the
important role of caregiver. Men will have the same rights and opportunities to
care giving professions including full time parenting. Social pressures on men
to be successful providers that oblige them to take unattractive, often
dangerous jobs, will be a thing of the past. Workplaces will recognize and
support the equally valuable nurturing role of fathers.
Health
What we want: Raised visibility among men and society of each area of male
health issues, ongoing education of health professionals as to men's real
health needs, medical research into and provision of focused services for men's
health, and accessible information for men on resources in each of these areas.
Violence
What we want: Violence in society will be recognized not as a war against women
but as a systemic social dysfunction that causes grievous harm to both
sexes. Also violence against women will be recognized as much more
rare than we are led to believe. Society's social, health and penal systems
will address the needs and responsibilities of all victims and perpetrators
regardless of sex. Zero tolerance policies with regard to male violence or to
violence against women will be recognized as sexist and eliminated. We also
want support provided
for men who are victims of domestic violence and information. We specifically
want safe houses for male victims of domestic violence and their children.
Social Prejudice
What we want: We want the greater society to
recognize the fundamental equality of men and women, and the equivalent
validity of men's and women's issues. We want it to balance the rights and
responsibilities that have been culturally assigned to men and to women. Both
men and women are equally competent caregivers and family providers. This means
that each individual's potential needs to be recognized in all the various
roles of human endeavour. We will cease creating social expectations based on
gender.
We also
want the public to be taught the truth and for all the lies of the past to be
exposed. We want this at the expense of the government.
Wars
and the vote
What we want: We want to either make women equally
liable for conscription into wars or to take away their equal ability to vote
on who makes policies which state whether or not men are forced into
conscription. We also want male only conscription recognised as genocide.
What we want: We want an end to discrimination within laws and law
making processes and also to end un-necessary long sentences and to create
humane prisons and rehabilitative processes also to add protection for the
innocent.
What we want: We want a penny spent on men’s
issues for every one that’s spent on women’s issues. Specifically we want this
money spent on things that further men rather than on punishments.
What we want: We want to help men in a holistic
way.
Our Intention
We the undersigned
hereby affirm and declare our intention to hold the vision of a full and loving
recognition of the inherent dignity, beauty, and value of both men and women.
We are convinced that ultimately justice for both genders will prevail, where
men and women will be cognizant of their rights and held to their
responsibilities. We urge both men and women to embrace their co-responsibility
for the creation of a just and equal world.
