MOVE – Aklan Declares: “Fathers Can Make A Difference”

The Men Opposed to Violence Against Women (VAW) and Children Everywhere in Aklan (MOVE-Aklan) joins the entire nation in the celebration of Fathers’ Day by recognizing the important role men play in achieving gender equality in Aklan.

“Fathers Day, like the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW) Chair Myrna Yao said, is an event to celebrate fatherhood and male parenting. “On this day we honor not only our fathers and forefathers, but all men who have supported our interests and aspirations. She stressed that the male population needs to be involved if gender equality is to be achieved”

Chair Yao emphasized that this interest among men encourages mutually satisfying relationship of women and men built on trust and communication.

In a research cited by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), there is a growing interest among men to get involve in the issue of gender equality .

NCRFW further cites that campaigning and organizing men is one form of program that increases men’s appreciation of seeing themselves as responsible, caring and non-violent partners. MOVE recognizes that gender roles and relations are dependent on social context in which cultural, religious, economic, political and social circumstances are intertwined.

MOVE – Aklan was organized in March 2007. To date, it has set of officers, and functional committees such as Membership, Info, Education and Publicity, Strategic Planning and Research, and Policy.

The formation of MOVE Aklan was the brainchild of Gov. Carlito S. Marquez who is its Honorary Chair while Mr. Franklin Quimpo and Engr. Lou Santamaria are the Chair and Vice Chair of the Aklan Chapter respectively.

MOVE is an organization of principled men whose members are dedicated and actively involved in the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women particularly VAW. /MP