Instituto PAPAI

Instituto PAPAI are pioneers, seeking to challenge the machismo of Brazilian society by promoting public policy that aims to abolish gender inequality. They are the first NGO in Latin America to work with men and boys from the perspective of gender.

To achieve this, Instituto PAPAI actively engage men and young people from low income communities in the fight for gender equality.
Their work covers 4 key areas:

• Young men and healthcare
• Fatherhood, care-giving and reproductive rights
• Men and gendered violence
• Sexual diversity as a human right
  

Instituto PAPAI began in 1996 as a project that grew out of the Masters thesis of founder Jorge Lyra. The project aimed to create a space for young fathers to discuss their experiences, and educate health professionals about the needs of adolescent fathers. This later became the Support Programme for Fathers, and eventually grew into Instituto PAPAI.

PAPAI’s ground-breaking work involving men and boys in care-giving and preventing the transmission of HIV and AIDS was recognised by UNAIDS in 1999 as a model for social change.

One of their most effective strategies in revealing human rights abuses and bringing about social change has been the use of vibrant campaigns during carnival, public holidays, and gay pride marches. 

young people at the Diversity Parade

PAPAI co-ordinate 3 national campaigns. The Seahorse Campaign involves men in care-giving and fatherhood within the context of health and reproductive rights. Diversity is Cool uses art and culture to work with young people to prevent homophobia. And the White Ribbon Campaign not only engages men and boys in ending violence against women, it also works with women’s institutions to lobby for a change in the law and undertake educational and political action in order to prevent women suffering domestic violence at the hands of current or ex partners.

Extensive research into social attitudes and behaviours – from paternity leave to homophobic violence – forms the foundation of PAPAI’s work. This strong basis enables them to work at a government level, where they have been helping shape policies for adolescent and men’s health.

In 2006, Instituto PAPAI were honoured by the Brazilian Federal Ministry for their contribution towards preventing the spread of sexually-transmitted diseases, reducing the levels of domestic violence, and increasing male participation in family-planning. In 2009, they co-organised the global symposium 'Engaging Men in Achieving Gender Equality', which was supported by the UN and featured a speech from the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon.