The Appropriate Communication Techniques for Development Center in Cairo launched a project May 15 to enlist men to fight violence against women. According to a study conducted by the Thomson Reuters Foundation at the end of 2013, Egypt is the worst country for women’s rights in the Arab world.

Yara Fathi, the center's gender programs director, told Al-Monitor the new campaign will emphasize that men can help stop violence against women, despite the prevailing idea that only women support such a cause. Getting men involved will raise the issue’s visibility and provide male mentors to speak with other men about the importance of the topic.

Fathi believes integrating men in the fight will achieve success similar to that of the 2012 initiative “I spotted harassment.” She said that project, which relied on young volunteers, produced tangible results.

The new initiative targets men in local communities, university-age youth, civil society organizations, schools and the media. It addresses all forms of violence against women, starting with harassment, whether in the street or the workplace; domestic violence by a husband, father or brother; rape; forced early marriage and genital mutilation of young girls, especially in rural areas and Upper Egypt. Fathi also hopes to raise awareness about the repercussions of such violence for victims’ families.