THEME 2014: WORKING TOGETHER FOR MEN AND BOYS, FATHERS AND SONS
International Men’s Day, Wednesday 19 November 2014
Working Together for Men and Boys, Fathers and Sons: Positive Male Role Models
Objectives of International Men’s Day include a focus on men’s and boy’s health, improving gender relations, promoting gender equality, and highlighting positive male role models. It is an occasion for men to celebrate their achievements and contributions, in particular their contributions to community, family, marriage, and child care while highlighting the discrimination against them.
The November IMD is a significant date as it interfaces the popular ‘Movember’ charity event and also with Universal Children’s Day on Nov 20 with which IMD forms a 48 hour celebration of men and children respectively, and of the special relationships they share.
The ability to sacrifice your needs on behalf of others is fundamental to manhood, as is honour. Manhood rites of passage the world over recognise the importance of sacrifice in the development of Manhood.
Men make sacrifices everyday in their place of work, in their role as husbands and fathers, for their families, for their friends, for their communities and for their nation. International Men’s Day is an opportunity for people everywhere of goodwill to appreciate and celebrate the men in their lives and the contribution they make to society for the greater good of all.
Methods of commemorating International Men’s Day have included public seminars, conferences, festivals and fundraisers, classroom activities at schools, radio and television programs, Church observances, and peaceful displays and marches. The manner of observing this annual day is optional; any organizations are welcome to host their own events and any appropriate forums can be used. This year the theme is Positive Male Role Models. Should you want to choose another theme for your particular celebration you are quite at liberty to do so.
International Men’s Day is celebrated in over 60 countries of the world. Too many to list. Join us on November 19 in celebrating the contribution men and boys make to those around them, to their family and friends, their work place and the community, the nations and the world.
Dads4Kids is honoured to host the Men’s Day website and we invite you to join the global celebrations. Anyone is welcome to quote material from this website (attribution to this website is required), as well as free and open use of our logo and access to new posters in the Resource Section.
Please feel free to download and use our posters and logos at:
* Logos: http://www.internationalmensday.com/logos.html
* Posters: http://www.internationalmensday.com/posters-and-logos.html
Platform for European Fathers (PEF) 
For the first time N Ireland has an event on for IMD. Belfast City Council are running the event at Belfast Castle and I have been asked to participate, along with others, by doing a 15 minute talk on men/boys issues.
Excellent Peter. Will it be next wednesday?
Yes Peter. Another male organised this then the Council took it as their event. They have censored two parts of my talk, but i will ensure the truth is put out there.
I will be interested to read your full speach. Maybe you can send it over when it’s done?
Yes Peter, I will forward on once complete.
I have just been advised that Belfast City Council have prevented a Mens group from participating on Wednesday due to an investigation BCC conducted after complaints from Belfast Feminist Network. They have accused the group of being anti feminist and cant be seen to be creating an event and having speakers who would go against the councils policy on equality !! They have invited Belfast Feminist Network to IMD on Wednesday…. Shocked !!! I wont be censored to appease BFN.
The first International Mens Day in N Ireland was a success. Over 100 hundred men, and women, attended with representation from political, voluntary, N Ireland Fire Brigade and others. NI Fire Brigade asked for contact details to pass to colleagues and Salvation Army Social Workers have asked for us to train their staff, and social workers from other homeless hostels around Belfast, on recognising a male victim of Domestic Abuse and how to assist. An excellent day for Mens Aid in N ireland.