1.8 Million Brazilian Industry Workers to be Educated in Sexual and Reproductive Health, Gender Equality

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — A programme which will provide 1.8 million Brazilian industrial workers with information about sexual and reproductive health, gender equality and violence prevention was launched in Rio de Janeiro today by UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund; SESI, a Brazilian agency which provides social services to 400,000 private companies across the country; and the Brazilian non-governmental organization Promundo. —

“Our goal is to improve the quality of life for workers in Brazil, and we want to treat them as ‘whole persons’, involving as many aspects of their health as possible,” said Fernando Coelho Neto, Executive Manager of the Health and Safety at Work-section of SESI.

Mr. Coelho Neto explained that the information workers will receive through the programme will help them protect themselves against HIV infection, contribute to improving their mental health, and could also improve safety at the workplace.

“Often workers do not use safety equipment because of ‘macho’ attitudes. We hope that a better understanding of the male gender role will help change this,” said Mr. Coelho Neto.

UNFPA Representative in Brazil, Alanna Armitage, said that men are often overlooked in education programmes focusing on sexual and reproductive health. “They have less access to information and services in this area and it affects their own well being, as well as that of their partners and families.”

The agreement was signed during the Global Symposium, Engaging Men and Boys in Achieving Gender Equality, held in Rio this week. The forum gathered nearly 500 delegates from 35 countries to discuss how to achieve gender equality by working with men and boys.

SESI will work with UNFPA, Promundo and other partners to integrate the new programme into its comprehensive health programme, which includes web-based training courses, information campaigns,seminars, special training of managers, as well as health-related services provided by the companies themselves.

“We are eager to cooperate with similar programmes in other countries,” said Mr. said Coelho Neto, “both to share our own experiences and to learn from others.”

—Trygve Olfarnes