The societies cannot end the gender based violence (GBV) without men taking the active roles and responsibilities towards this end. The power relations in the South Caucasus are yet to be transformed in a way to eliminate the gender based violence from our families, offices and societies. This sounds like a long journey for war-torn patriarchal societies of the South Caucasus. However, even the longest journey starts from the first step.

Thirty men from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia gathered together to make this first step to happen. The seminar "Men Talking to Men" on the role and responsibility of men in combating gender based violence organized by UNFPA on 14-18 April 2010, in Tbilisi, brought together men of various age and profession. All of them had one thing in common. They are all committed to combat violence through speaking out the problem and encouraging other men to mobilize in action against violence. The seminar was facilitated by one of the world's champions in stopping gender based violence, the cofounder of the White Ribbon movement - Dr. Michael Kaufmann - author, educator, consultant.

ICHD contributed in the seminar mobilizing the beneficiaries of its project "Combating Gender-based Violence in Armenia" sponsored by the UNFPA/CGBV. Ten men, who were trained by the Consortium of Armenian organizations led by ICHD, participated in the seminar and gained the knowledge and skills on engaging men into the combat against gender based-violence. These ten men working at the Public Chamber, think tank, regional social assistance center, NGO, General Prosecutor's office: the large variety of institutions, will continue their action back home and will mobilize men's action.