Men's personal and political contribution starts in the home with the sharing of domestic responsibilities. Men must take personal responsibility for eliminating violence against women. But it must also be understood that violence against women is a political issue. At the political level, the government and the private sector must work together to influence economic policy, placing greater value on a woman's role within the family and in the economy. In addition, legislation that seeks to protect and empower women must not be left on paper alone but must be executed with full support from all levels of government.

Education can provide boys with a different interpretation of masculinity, replacing the one based on domination to one defined by shared responsibility. Education can provide girls with increased opportunities to make informed decisions for themselves. Offer a girl education and she has the power to make choices. Offer her a nurturing environment in which to grow and she can change her society for the better. Offer her reproductive health services and she and her future children will enjoy a healthier tomorrow. The ICPD Programme of Action made the case for empowerment of women succinctly:

"Achieving change requires policy and programme actions that will improve women's access to secure livelihoods and economic resources, alleviate their extreme responsibilities with regard to housework, remove legal impediments to their participation in public life and raise social awareness through effective programmes of education and mass communication. In addition, improving the status of women also enhances their decision-making capacity at all levels and all spheres of life, especially in the area of sexuality and reproduction. This, in turn, is essential for the long-term success of population programmes. Experience shows that population and development programmes are most effective when steps have simultaneously been taken to improve the status of women." (Paragraph 4.1, excerpt)

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