Australia’s High Commissioner to Ghana, Berenice Owen-Jones has urged Ghanaian men to take prominence in challenging harmful gender norms, calling positive masculinity a powerful tool in the fight to end violence against women and girls.

She delivered the message at the National Men’s Conference on Positive Masculinity at Alisa Hotel in Accra, held to climax the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign.

Ms Jones called for a united, nationwide movement of men championing respect, empathy, and equality, elaborating that ending violence against women and girls depends on transforming the norms that shape how boys and men understand power and responsibility.

The High Commissioner described gender-based violence as preventable, not inevitable, if societies work deliberately to shift harmful attitudes.

“Men are not the problem. Harmful gender norms are,” she said, adding that boys and men must be seen as “essential partners in the solution.”

The conference, which brought together government officials, traditional and religious authorities, civil society groups and male champions from across the country, served as the closing event for the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.

She noted that digital platforms have increasingly become powerful influencers over boys, sometimes more than their guardians. She warned that the surge of online personalities who glorify misogyny threatens the progress towards gender equality.

Mrs Owen-Jones stressed that role models hold immense power, noting how Australian sports leagues now train athletes to publicly advocate respectful behaviour.

“When men with influence challenge harmful norms, boys listen, and communities listen,” she said, calling on Ghanaian icons, from footballers to musicians, actors, chiefs and clergy to unite behind a similar message.

Her proposals included empowering fathers to be more nurturing and present, integrating respect and equality training into schools and youth clubs, encouraging male political leaders to champion gender equality, and creating safe community spaces where boys can openly discuss pressures, identity and relationships.

“Real strength is not domination. It is self-control, compassion and accountability,” she emphasised, urging Ghana to explore peer networks like “Male Champions for Gender Equality” to sustain continuous learning and support among men.

The High Commissioner praised the Gender Ministry for convening the conference and reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to collaborating with Ghana in preventing gender-based violence.

“At stake is a future where girls grow up free from fear, and boys grow up free from harmful expectations,” she said.

The conference concluded with renewed calls for collective action from families, traditional authorities, policymakers, and the media to redefine masculinity and build safer, more equitable communities for all.