Violence

The following describes initiatives and strategies that can be adopted by Government that will build capacity in Australia to effectively engage men and boys in violence prevention. Note that these initiatives are focused on primary prevention rather than initiatives aimed at men and boys at risk of using violence (secondary prevention / intervention) or already using violence (tertiary prevention / intervention).

What Kind of Man Do You Want to Be? is a new campaign designed to engage men across Victoria (Australia) in conversations about masculinity, respect and prevention. The campaign was launched in Melbourne/Naarm in June 2025.

These notes were prepared by Professor Michael Flood in September 2021, to guide a largescale organisation in Australia in its development of bystander education to prevent and reduce workplace sexual harassment.

General principles for effective education

There are some general principles for effective education that can be applied to education and training strategies focused on bystander intervention in sexual harassment. Such strategies are more likely to generate change if they:

ASK A MATE is a new app aimed at boys and young men and intended to provide sound, evidence-based advice on topics including relationships, gender, consent, domestic and sexual violence, delivered by high-profile positive male role models who young men are willing to listen to.

ASK A MATE has been created by Beyond DV, an Australian charity focused on shaping a society free from domestic violence. 

While the global body of knowledge on men and boys' experiences of sexual abuse during childhood has incrementally grown over the last several years, it remains an under-researched area of study. Drawing upon primary phenomenological research with men survivors of child sexual abuse (CSA) in India, in this chapter, I report and discuss findings that explore the gendered meanings that men who have experienced CSA make of their abuse experiences against a backdrop of heteropatriarchal assumptions and expectations regarding masculinity.

This discussion guide is for organizations working with men and boys that are addressing the prevention of violence against women and girls (VAWG) or are interested in beginning work in this area. The 11-page guide provides examples of approaches to developing gender-transformative messaging that organizations can refer to and utilise in their work.

In 2025 Male Allies Challenging Sexism (MACS) is calling on fellow boys and men across the globe to stop contributing to the sexual exploitation of women and girls, through our #RefuseTheBait campaign.

This paper provides a critical assessment of efforts to involve men in the prevention of men’s violence against women. Although there is a substantial evidence base attesting to the effectiveness of at least some strategies and interventions, this field is also limited in important ways. Violence prevention efforts often have focused on changing men’s attitudes, rather than also seeking to transform structural and institutional inequalities.

Based on a literature review and interviews with key stakeholders, this technical brief synthesizes current research into how masculinities and disabilities intersect in conflict and post-conflict settings. It outlines evidenced-based strategies for meaningful engagement with men and boys and sheds light on how to equip them with the skills they need to play a role in peaceful societies that are both gender- and disability-inclusive.

Download the technical brief here.