Raising Awareness of Rights: Mentoring Young Men in Mozambique
At seventeen, Vasco César is rethinking some of his views, especially about women. “I always thought that because I was a man, I had to have more privileges than my sisters, and I shouldn’t do certain household tasks,” he says.
His change in attitude has been fueled by a group of young men and boys aged 17 to 24, who meet to discuss the values and behaviors they should demonstrate if they want to contribute to an equitable and progressive society. From the group’s discussion of issues related to sexual and reproductive health and rights, including violence against women and girls, he now leans toward a different perspective to the one he grew up with.
“I changed the way I see the world,” he says, including that “when a girl says ‘no’, it is no.”
The Power of Mentorship
Every Saturday, Helton Bruno, 20, brings together a group of about 20 young men aged from 17 to 24 years old, in Nampula province in northern Mozambique. He asks them questions to spark discussions, with the aim of changing the mindsets of young people about practices that are harmful to youth and their communities.
“The joy of spreading knowledge is my greatest motivation,” says Mr. Bruno. “Because it is a young person speaking to another young person, the message is easily taken in.”
The discussions are casual and free from judgment. Led by a peer, they are neither intimidating, nor given in an unfamiliar language.
Caption: Various youth-focused programs are strengthening young people’s knowledge, skills and access to services, information and support through mentorship.
Photo: © UNFPA Mozambique
Empowering Young People for Gender Equality
Mentorship sessions like this one are held weekly for a network of young people that engages with other members of their community to increase knowledge and awareness of individual rights, especially the rights of women and girls.
In Nampula and Zambezia provinces, a group of 450 mentors has been trained to lead sessions under the adolescent sexual and reproductive health program, Rapariga Biz.
Since these mentorship sessions began, more than 9,600 boys and young men have taken part. These empowered young people are playing a critical role in reflecting and assessing individual and collective behaviors that are harmful and hinder gender equality.
Mr. Bruno is proud to be contributing to positive behavior change among his peers. “I am happy to see that the youth I mentor are aware that they must respect the rights of others,” he says.
Against a backdrop of high rates of child marriage and early pregnancy in Nampula province, this intervention is critical. Nearly one in two girls aged 15 to 19 are young mothers (IMASIDA 2015).
Caption: Marto Abel, 17, advises the young men he mentors that young people need to change their mindsets and boys must be equipped with the tools they need to express themselves in a non-violent and respectful way.
Photo: © UNFPA Mozambique
Creating Change Agents
Like Mr. Bruno, seventeen-year-old Marto Abel has become a mentor to his peers. He uses the platform to stress that to end gender-based violence, young people need to change their mindsets, and boys must be equipped with the tools they need to express themselves in a non-violent and respectful way.
“I see positive transformation in the behavior and attitude of the group I mentor,” says Marto. “Nowadays, they realize the equality and equity that must exist between girls and boys.”
Thanks to Rapariga Biz, Marto considers himself a change agent, as he advises and refers adolescents and young people to seek reproductive health services. “In my group, there is a particular interest in discussing issues related to sexuality, or sexual and reproductive health. I have been advising my mentees to visit the SAAJ (youth-friendly health service).”
The Rapariga Biz program uses a holistic approach to life skills to empower adolescent girls and young women to prevent child marriage and early and unwanted pregnancies, and encourages girls to stay in school or return to school. Funded by the governments of Canada and Sweden, Rapariga Biz is implemented by UNFPA, together with UNICEF, UN Women, and UNESCO.
The UNFPA-UNICEF Global Programme to End Child Marriage works to eliminate child marriage through providing technical support to key partners, including the government and national NGOs. This includes coordination and capacity building, awareness-raising campaigns, mentoring sessions, with the involvement of community and religious leaders. The program is funded through the Spotlight Initiative and Zonta International.
This article was published earlier by the Spotlight Initiative. For more info about the UN’s work in Mozambique, please visit mozambique.un.org.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. SDGs Addressed or Connected to the Issues Highlighted in the Article
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- SDG 4: Quality Education
- SDG 5: Gender Equality
- SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
The issues highlighted in the article are related to sexual and reproductive health and rights, violence against women and girls, gender equality, and changing harmful mindsets and behaviors. These align with the above-mentioned SDGs.
2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Based on the Article’s Content
- SDG 3.7: By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programs.
- SDG 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including among others through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship, and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development.
- SDG 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.
- SDG 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status.
- SDG 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.
The article mentions activities and initiatives that contribute to achieving these specific targets under the relevant SDGs.
3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied in the Article
- Number of mentorship sessions held
- Number of mentors trained
- Number of young men and boys participating in the discussions
- Number of young people aware of and respecting the rights of others
- Reduction in rates of child marriage and early pregnancy
- Number of adolescents and young people seeking reproductive health services
The article implies these indicators as measures of progress towards the identified targets. The mentioned mentorship sessions, trained mentors, and participation numbers reflect the engagement and reach of the initiatives. The reduction in child marriage and early pregnancy rates indicates progress in achieving gender equality and reproductive health goals. The number of young people seeking reproductive health services demonstrates increased awareness and access to healthcare.
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | Target 3.7: By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programs. | – Number of mentorship sessions held – Number of adolescents and young people seeking reproductive health services |
| SDG 4: Quality Education | Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including among others through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship, and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development. | – Number of mentorship sessions held – Number of mentors trained – Number of young men and boys participating in the discussions |
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation. | – Number of mentorship sessions held – Number of young people aware of and respecting the rights of others |
| SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities | Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status. | – Number of young people aware of and respecting the rights of others |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere. | – Reduction in rates of child marriage and early pregnancy |
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Source: unsdg.un.org
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