INTERNATIONAL Men's Day, a global event to raise awareness around discrimination and men's health, is celebrated each year in November,
In the same spirit as global women’s celebration day, which launched to advocate for improved rights and pay for women, IMD was launched to help men open up on issues such violence, health and suicide. But when is the day and how is it marked?
When is International Men's Day 2020?
Each year International Men’s Day is celebrated on November 19, with the 2020 celebrations taking place on Thursday.
It is an international event that is celebrated in more than 70 countries worldwide.
The date coincides with the birthday of the father of Dr Jerome Teelucksingh, a doctor from Trinidad and Tobago who relaunched International Men’s Day in 1999.
In 2020, the themes International Men's Day is focusing on includes:
- Making a positive difference to the wellbeing and lives of men and boys
- Raising awareness and/or funds for charities supporting men and boys’ wellbeing
- Promoting a positive conversation about men, manhood and masculinity
Organisers say it's designed to help more people consider what action we can all take to “Make A Difference” and “give men and boys better life chances” by addressing issues such as high suicide rates, sexual abuse and health.
What did comedian Richard Herring say about the day?
Every year on International Women's Day, which falls on March 8, comedian Richard Herring takes it upon himself to educate his Twitter followers on the existence and purpose of Men's Day.
His comical replies grow steadily more exasperated as people show a lack of awareness for the date of the men's event.
In 2018 Herring used the attention that his tweets were receiving to raise more than £150,000 for domestic violence charity Refuge.
In 2019, he set a target of £10,000 on his Just Giving page to raise money for CALM
(Campaign Against Living Miserably)
And this year, the comedian has penned a book, titled The Problem with Men: When is International Men's Day, with all proceeds going to CALM.
What is the aim of International Men's Day?
The aim of International Men’s Day is to celebrate positive male role models and to raise awareness of men’s issues which are often overlooked.
These include areas like mental health, toxic masculinity and the prevalence of male suicide.
International Men’s Day coincides with Movember, when men grow their facial hair in an effort to promote conversations about men’s mental health, suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer.
On its official website, the event states that the day is a “focus on men's and boy's health, improving gender relations, promoting gender equality, and highlighting positive male role models”.
It adds: "International Men’s Day is an opportunity for people everywhere of goodwill to appreciate and celebrate the men in their lives and the contribution they make to society for the greater good of all."
The day is also "a platform to raise awareness to the challenges that men face in life – especially in relation to the international male suicide rate".
Why do we celebrate International Women's Day on March 8?
International Women's Day is a worldwide event that celebrates women’s achievements and calls for gender equality.
After women gained suffrage in Soviet Russia in 1917, March 8 became a national holiday there.
The day was then predominantly celebrated by the socialist movement and communist countries until it was adopted in 1975 by the United Nations.
IWD has been observed since the early 1900s and aims to bring together governments, women's organisations and charities.
Marches and strikes take place for multiple causes: ending gender violence, reproductive justice, body autonomy and freedom of choice for all women, labour rights and equal pay for equal work, environmental justice and recognition of its links with social inequality, ending racism and police brutality.
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