The meeting featured an interactive discussion on the “State of the World’s Fathers” which is the first global report on the state of men’s contribution to parenting and caregiving. In the opening speeches, Ms Clinton mentioned that women also have a good contribution to GDP. Achieving gender equality in caregiving would help individual families as well as the economy as a whole. Ms Osotimehin expressed that fatherhood and motherhood always come together. 80% of men end up being a biological / non-biological father. Instead of wrongly confining the concept of masculinity, we should start adopting the new concept of “humaninity”.

During the panel discussion, Mr Carino identified a need of positive legislation to prevent domestic violence, seeing as young boys from families with domestic violence are more likely to exhibit acts of domestically violent. Additionally, Mr Sneed shared the upgrade of paternal leave policy of Johnson & Johnson, and reminded the audience of the importance for corporations to upgrade their policies in order to match with the modern family structures in the 21^st century.

Mr Peacock spoke about the availability of family responsibility leave in South Africa, and expressed the dire need of expanded paternal leave. Ms van der Gagg reiterated that issues of unequal distribution in care work affect everyone in the world, regardless of their social status, family status or geographical location. Mr Levtov emphasized on the involvement of men in order for gender equality issues to be addressed.

Meeting: Unveiling the State of the World’s Fathers 2015
Date & Location: 16 June 2015; 15:30-17:00;  Trusteeship Council Chamber, UN Headquarters, New York
Speakers: Chelsea Clinton, Vice Chair of Clinton Foundation; Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director of UNFPA; Gary Barker, International Director of Promundo; Giselle Carino, Deputy Regional Director of International Planned Parenthood Federation / Western Hemisphere Region (IPPF/ WHR); Lena Karlsson, Director of Children Protection Initiative and Save the Children; Michael Sneed, Vice President of Global Corporate Affairs, Johnsons & Johnsons; Dean Peacock, Executive Director of Snoke Gender Justice; Nikki van der Gaag, Report Author and Author of “Feminism and Men”; Michael Kaufman, Report Author and Co-Founder of the White Ribbon Campaign; Ruti Levtov, Report Author and MenCare Co-Coordinator, Promundo
Written By WIT Representative: Katy Ho
Edited By WIT Representative: Parth Shingala