AUSTRALIAN PARLIAMENT TO CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL MEN'S DAY 2009!

MEDIA ALERT

INAUGURAL CELEBRATION
PARLIAMENT HOUSE, CANBERRA

The inaugural International Men’s Day Celebration will take place at Parliament House, Committee Room 1S3 from 12.15–1.30 pm on Thursday 19 November. Parliamentarians and members of the press gallery are invited to attend this historic occasion. Dr Elizabeth Celi, psychologist and men’s health author, will be the keynote speaker.

Dr Celi has been featured on both TV and radio discussing men’s health and the challenges faced by men. She is a gifted speaker and is highly regarded within the Australian men’s movement.

Supporting speakers include Phil Gouldson, former president of Men’s Health & Wellbeing in Canberra, Geoffrey Greene, president of the Shared Parenting Council, Paul Whyte, Sydney Men’s Network and Men’s Health Australia and well known ACT men’s health advocate Dr Tim O’Neill.

International Men's Day (IMD) began on 19 November 1999 in Trinidad and Tobago and was supported by the United Nations. The event received wide support from men's groups in USA, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. Speaking on behalf of UNESCO, Ms. Ingeborg Breines, Director of Women and Culture of Peace said: “This is an excellent idea and would give some gender balance”, adding that her organisation was looking forward to cooperating with IMD.

Warwick Marsh coordinator of the global website for International Men’s Day said, “Excitement is growing around the world as we network with other countries that are already celebrating International Men’s Day or are coming on board for the very first time. The great thing about this year’s celebrations in other nations is that over half of them are being organised by or feature prominent women. This shows the enormous groundswell of support from the women of the world to encourage and help men. Women everywhere are calling for the governments of their countries to address the issues that ordinary men face every day. Dr Elizabeth Celi’s wholehearted support for International Men’s Day shows this to be the case.”

Objectives of International Men's Day include a focus on men and boy's health, improving gender relations, promoting gender equality, and highlighting ‘positive male role models’ the theme for 2009. It is an occasion for men to highlight the many challenges they face and an opportunity for the broader community to celebrate their achievements and contributions, in particular for their contributions to community, family, marriage, and child care.

Warwick & Alison Marsh
www.internationalmensday.com
0418 225 212
02 4272 6677
info@fatherhood.org.au