"Men in politics for equality" project

In 2017, an initiative was launched to encourage men in political roles to promote equality in their sphere of influence and, in particular, to promote the personal and collective commitment of other men to this cause.

Two groups of men in politics were created: one within the Basque Government, and the other at the municipal level, in collaboration with EUDEL. These spaces for training, reflection and exchange boost the participation and engagement of men in politics with equality, insofar as they are leaders and decision makers.

This initiative with men in politics was used as an example of good practice at the #InvolveMen International Seminar held in Brussels on 19 November 2019 by the Congress of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR).

This video summarizes the ideas and objectives from the first phase of the experience.

Male politicians for gender equality (Youtube)

Following the positive rating of the experience, in order to continue with the initiative, a second phase based on a draft equality guide for men in public office was launched in early 2020. Five working sessions were held (two with Basque Government politicians, two with local politicians and one joint session) in which a total of 25 men took part.

And from 2019 onwards, training processes were carried out with male politicians belonging to the local organizations from Ayala and Campezo-Montaña Alavesa and Amurrio in Alava, Enkarterri in Bizcay and the Provincial Council of Alava.

In addition, in 2021, two lines of training were launched, open to all men who hold political posts in the autonomous, regional and local administrations, the Basque Parliament and the provincial assemblies. This involved talks with equality experts, and also what are called “training meetings”, regular online sessions in the form of training pills designed especially for men in politics. Since 2021, 9 training activities have been carried out.

TRAINING ACTIVITIES

Training sessions

  • Men, equality and public policies. Ander Bergara - 2021/06/10
  • Male identity, power and forms of leadership. Josetxu Riviere - 2021/10/24
  • Main changes of the amendment of the Basque Gender Equality Law, with special reference to measures focused on men. Ander Bergara - 05/18/2022 (YouTube)

Discussions with experts

  • Miguel Lorente: "The role of men in public office in the promotion of equality" - 2021/05/18
  • Pilar Kaltzada: "Statements, speeches and actions of men in political office in the face of male violence” - 2021/11/24 (YouTube)
  • Pilar Legarra: "Uses of time and political participation in terms of equality" - 2022/07/05 (YouTube)
  • Miquel Missé: "Masculinities, diversity and public policies" - 2022/11/28 (YouTube)
  • Gary Barker: "The role of male politicians in promoting equality" - 2022/12/13 (YouTube)
  • Alan Greig: "Manosphere and the role of men in this type of spaces" - 2023/10/24 (YouTube)
  • Hilario Sáez Méndez: "The role of men as agents of change for gender equality in the current context of neo-sexist backlash" - 02/12/2025 (YouTube)
  • Rodrigo Montero Cano: "Networks for equality of men in decision-making positions" - 17/02/2026 (YouTube)

Since the project was launched, 447 male politicians have participated in it.

It is worth noting that the work carried out in this area was considered a good practice in the State of the World’s fathers 2021, produced by Equimundo in collaboration with Save the Children, Oxfam, MenEngage Alliance and the United Nations Foundation. It has also been considered a good practice by UN Women and, in fact, has been taken as a source of inspiration for the creation of the Network for Equality of Men in Public Office in Arab countries, within the framework of the international project Dare to Care.

Furthermore, since 2025, the initiative has been included in the catalogue of best practices of Radio Televisión Española's Objetivo Igualdad (Equality Objective) project.