International Men’s Day (IMD) is an annual international event celebrated and marked on 19 November every year, including across all four nations of the UK – England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. It was first formally started in the UK in 2010. The event as a whole was inaugurated in 1999 in Trinidad and Tobago and has backing from UNESCO.

In the UK, the team behind it have adopted three key themes that allow as many organisations and people to take part. Please feel free to use any of them (or a combination) as a “guide/framework” for any events and activities that you may hold.

• 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

International Men’s Day places its focus on that which unites humanity – giving everyone who wants to celebrate International Men’s Day the opportunity to help work towards  shared objectives which are applied equally to men and boys irrespective of their age, ability, social background, ethnicity, sexuality, gender identity, religious belief and relationship status.

Those international objectives and pillars are:

• To promote male role models
• To celebrate the contribution that men make
• To focus on men’s health and wellbeing
• To highlight discrimination against men the inequalities that men and boys face
• To improve gender relations and promote gender equality
• To create a safer world for everyone

The six key pillars of International Men’s Day are set out below.

(1)       To promote positive male role models; not just movie stars and sports men but everyday, working class men who are living decent, honest lives.

(2)       To celebrate men’s positive contributions; to society, community, family, marriage, child care, and to the environment

(3)       To focus on men’s health and wellbeing; social, emotional, physical and spiritual.

(4)       To highlight discrimination against males; in areas of social services, social attitudes and expectations, and law

(5)       To improve gender relations and promote gender equality.

(6)       To create a safer, better world; where people can be safe and grow to reach their full potential.

Information about International Men’s Day around the world can be found on Wikipedia.