The Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Policy Unit, under the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, officially launched the BRAVE (Build your legacy, Reclaim manhood, Activate goals, Visualise success, and Execute fearlessly) Men’s Policy on Friday. This initiative seeks to actively involve men and boys in efforts to prevent gender-based violence (GBV) while promoting emotional well-being and personal responsibility.
The BRAVE Men’s Policy – Bridging the Gap: Positively Engaging Men and Boys in GBV Prevention, Healing, and Accountability – is a new national framework designed to redefine traditional gender norms and encourage a more positive conception of manhood. It aims to shift perceptions of men from being portrayed solely as perpetrators to being recognized as positive agents of change.
Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, delivered the feature address at the launch. She emphasized the critical importance of this policy in addressing the persistent issue of gender-based violence.
“We see gender-based violence rearing its head again and again, and when it comes to the fore, lives are lost,” Dr. Persaud stated. She highlighted the need for a comprehensive and inclusive approach, noting that many men from diverse backgrounds were consulted during the policy’s development to ensure it resonates with a wide audience.
The BRAVE program not only focuses on GBV prevention but also promotes healing, legacy building, and empowerment among men and boys. It encourages them to reflect on concepts of masculinity and expand their understanding of strength, rather than policing traditional notions of manhood.
The policy is constructed around five interlinked objectives:
Challenge Harmful Cultural Norms
Foster Healing and Accountability
Promote Inclusive Engagement
Strengthen Institutional Responses
Empower Communities
Targeted engagement is primarily focused on two age groups:
Ages 16 – 24: Boys and young men in formative stages of identity development.
Ages 25 – 35: Men navigating adulthood, relationships, and community roles.
Within these groups, the policy outlines five categories of engagement, including:
Men and Boys in General
Boys and Young Men in Early Socialisation
Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Offenders
Non-Violent IPV Offenders
Proactive Male Allies and Potential Change Agents
Dr. Persaud concluded by reiterating the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing violence, stating, “We cannot build a nation without men. We need to see both men and women as solutions to this embedded issue, not just nationally, but globally.”
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