A/HRC/38/24 I. Methodologies for a gender-transformative approach 40. As discussed under sections II and III above, for initiatives to engage men and boys in gender equality issues and the elimination of gender-based violence against women and girls, they have to be gender transformative in their objectives and outcomes and have to meet certain methodological criteria, such as full respect for the rights, autonomy and leadership of women and girls, and engagement with women, girls and their organizations.86 As an example of methodologies for a gender-responsive engagement of men and boys, the MenEngage Alliance has developed concrete guidance on how work with men and boys can be done effectively, while putting the rights and leadership of women and girls at the centre. The Alliance’s Accountability Standards and Guidelines87 and Code of Conduct 88 suggest: seeking regular feedback from women’s rights organizations for work carried out to engage men and boys; involving women in decisionmaking processes for interventions on engaging men and boys; allocating a certain number of board seats to members of women’s rights organizations; creating “advisory councils” of women’s organizations; inviting women’s rights organizations to conduct programmes together with efforts on men and boys; and/or contributing in solidarity to women’s rights organizations through joint advocacy or activism. 41. A gender-transformative approach aims to change gender norms and relations in society. Changes in attitudes, behaviours and norms at an individual level are not sufficient to drive change at societal level. To make systemic change, efforts need to be undertaken at multiple levels, in the home, in the community, in local and national institutions and through legal and policy frameworks and across public and private spaces. 89 In this regard, the Alliance has adopted a “socio-ecological model” for engaging men and boys to eliminate gender-based violence, which combines: interventions that aim to change men’s individual behaviour and behaviour within relationships with women and girls; interventions targeted at communities that aim to transform dominant social norms regarding gender and violence; interventions that aim to embed positive gender norms in institutions, such as the health and education systems and law enforcement; and national policies and laws that engage men and boys in gender-based violence prevention.90 42. A number of those who made submissions emphasized the importance of a strong evidence base for identifying strategic entry points and designing effective interventions, and recognized that insufficient evidence remains a challenge. 91 One of the goals of the Government Strategy for Equality of Women and Men in Czechia between 2014 and 2020 92 is systematic identification of the ways to efficiently eliminate gender stereotypes and unconscious prejudices in all spheres and at all levels of society. 93 In Portugal, the Government published a White Paper on men and gender equality, 94 which summarized the relevant information on men, male roles and gender equality and helped identify challenges and recommendations in that area, in order to be discussed and weighed by all bodies and 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 14 See also Human Rights Council resolution 35/10, para. 9 (d). See http://menengage.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/MenEngage_Accountability-Standards-andGuidelines.pdf. See http://menengage.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/MenEngage-Global-Code-of-Conduct.pdf. Commission on the Status of Women, “The responsibility of men and boys in achieving gender equality, Chair’s summary”, 2015, para. 3. Available at www.unwomen.org//media/headquarters/attachments/sections/csw/59/meetings/chairs_summary_men_boys.pdf?la=en&v s=3738. MenEngage Alliance, policy brief: “Accelerating efforts to eliminate violence against women: engaging men and boys in preventing and responding to violence against all women and girls”, 2017. Submissions by Mexico and Promundo United States. See https://www.vlada.cz/assets/ppov/rovne-prilezitosti-zen-amuzu/Projekt_Optimalizace/Government_Strategy_for-Gender_Equality_2014_2020.pdf. Ibid., p. 25. See http://cite.gov.pt/asstscite/images/papelhomens/P_Brief_III_en.pdf.