International Men’s Day 2024

International Men’s Day is celebrated annually on 19 November. This iteration of the day was formally inaugurated by a lecturer, Dr Jerome Teelucksingh, in Trinidad and Tobago on 19 November 1999. In a podcast interview on 21 October 2020 podcast Dr Teelucksingh suggested the need to “promote positive male role models” was his main motivation for founding the day. He also said it should not be viewed as being in opposition to International Women’s Day.

In the UK, it is organised by the Men and Boys Coalition and is normally the subject of a debate in the House of Commons.

During the debate last year, on 21 November 2023, Members drew attention to a range of issues, including the outcomes for boys living in challenging domestic circumstances, high levels of male suicide stemming from hidden traumas, or the pressure to conform to societal notions of masculinity, and the importance of a cross governmental focus on issues which negatively affect men’s health and educational outcomes.

International Men’s Day in the UK has the same three core themes each year:

• Making a positive difference to the wellbeing and lives of men and boys
• Promoting a positive conversation about men, manhood and masculinity
• Raising awareness and/or funds for charities supporting men and boys’ wellbeing

These themes are designed to help organisations and individuals consider some of the issues that affect men and boys. Set out on the International Men’s Day UK website, they include a consideration of the high male suicide  rate; the challenges faced by men and boys at all stages of education and  work; male experience of parenting; and male survivors of abuse.

This debate pack provides an analysis of male educational outcomes, men’s physical health and mental health.