A/HRC/37/36 addressing the inherent biases carried on over generations was everyone’s individual responsibility and asked everyone to think about ways to challenge self-bias around genderbased violence. C. Overview of presentations 10. The moderator welcomed the new narrative of engaging men and boys as partners, allies, leaders, social change agents and disrupters of violence against women, rather than simply as perpetrators. That narrative called for their engagement in new actions and strategies, in partnership with women’s organizations and activists, researchers, and actors from multiple sectors and disciplines. She highlighted the need to unpack “masculinities” and what it meant to “be a man” in order to combat harmful stereotypes. Toxic masculinity and gender norms increased the likelihood of violent male behaviour. 11. She referred to the need to discuss other concepts such as gender norms, patriarchy, a structural system that valued the masculine over the feminine in virtually every sphere, and how to create partnerships with both informal and formal leaders that could reshape social and cultural norms. She pointed out some elements that could potentially reduce violence, including accessible and affordable childcare, wage parity, income support and comprehensive sexuality education in schools. She also mentioned the need to build the capacity of policymakers, donors, civil society leaders and informal leaders to reinforce and advocate for gender equality, promote and build healthy masculinities, build healthy relationship skills, equip men and boys with the skills to challenge violent masculinities and sexism. Finally, she noted the potential role of Governments and their education systems in promoting those values and skills that help to advance and reinforce gender equality, facilitating social and emotional learning and skills, and supporting healthy sexuality, healthy masculinities and media literacy on those issues. 12. The Special Rapporteur on violence against women recalled that gender discrimination and inequality were the root causes of violence against women and that the realization of gender equality and the empowerment of women should be a part of efforts to eradicate such violence. She pointed out that measures aimed at achieving gender equality were anchored in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. She further elucidated on obligations under regional instruments, including the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention) and the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the rights of women in Africa. She explained that the specific role of boys and men were enshrined in those international and regional instruments. 13. With regard to good practices, the Special Rapporteur referred to her recent visit to Argentina, where civil society had encouraged stakeholders to sign pledges of commitment to equality. She also noted that there were limits to what individual men and boys could do to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls, as certain systemic issues, such as discriminatory laws, had to be addressed at the State level. 14. The co-chair of the MenEngage Alliance and founder of Men’s Action for Stopping Violence against Women, Abhijit Das, began by clarifying that not all men and boys were violent and that such violence was embedded in the wider social structure of patriarchy. He further highlighted the intersectional nature of inequality and recalled that throughout history, each gender identity and social inequality had seen embedded violence. Such violence manifested itself whenever the male identity appeared to be challenged and was not only directed at women. Mr. Das stressed the necessity of reshaping the hegemonic model of masculinity towards alternative models. Gender equality could not be a zero sum game, but must have a resolution whereby both male and female parties benefited, given how they closely interacted within the family and society. 15. Mr. Das noted that incorporating such an approach brought a range of benefits, including increased educational attainment, increasing the age of marriage for girls, higher participation rates of women in local government and joint ownership of property. He also stated that men benefited from gender equality pursued in this way, including increased intimacy and nurturing relationships in the home. That change in relationship patterns 4