Europe

MenEngage Europe took significant steps forward in 2013, marked by a pivotal meeting held in Amsterdam in November of that year. More than 20 activists and advocates came together to chart the future of MenEngage’s work in the region. Discussions focused on priority themes, including masculinity and gender-based violence, male caregiving and fatherhood, and the long-term impact of the 2008 economic crisis on gender relations in Europe. This gathering laid the groundwork for collaborative efforts to address these critical issues across the region.

In September 2014, MenEngage Europe hosted a two-day regional meeting in Zagreb, Croatia, bringing together participants from 22 countries across Europe. The gathering served as both a network-strengthening event and a capacity-building platform focused on fatherhood and caregiving. During the meeting, participants shared best practices, exchanged experiences, and collaboratively adopted a two-year action plan (2014–2016) and a long-term strategy (2014–2020) to guide the network’s efforts toward gender justice and equitable caregiving practices.

Following outreach and partnership-building in previous years, 2016 saw the membership of MenEngage Europe grow by 20%, from 51 to 73 organisations. Individual members doubled to 86 compared to 2015 membership. The network also made structural progress during the year, with the creation of an organizational development Working Group which held a planning day in Amsterdam in June, as well as the adoption of a co-coordination leadership model.

In January 2017, MenEngage Europe participated in the European Institute of Gender Equality (EIGE) Civil Society consultation in Vilnius, Lithuania. 19 members attended, including most of the MenEngage Europe Steering Committee. The gathering was a key moment for MenEngage Europe to reflect on its strategic goals, strengthen partnerships with other gender justice organisations, and engage in advocacy discussions with EIGE.

In October 2018, MenEngage Europe held a membership meeting in Vienna, marking a pivotal moment in the network’s evolution, transitioning from an informal platform for collaboration to a more formalised network poised to take action in a shifting European political landscape. Key outcomes included the adoption of House Rules and the election of a new Steering Committee, reinforcing the network’s democratic structure.

In June, three MenEngage Europe members—Emancipator, MÄN, and Beyond Equality—co-hosted the IMAGINE conference in Amsterdam. This event marked the culmination of the IMAGINE project (2016–2018), which focused on creating a toolkit to engage boys and men in preventing sexual harassment and violence against women. The conference, themed “Engaging Boys and Men in the Age of #MeToo,” attracted 200 participants from across the Netherlands and Europe, showcasing the toolkit and project outcomes.

MenEngage Europe members from 13 organisations gathered in Stockholm, Sweden, for a learning visit focusing on violence prevention. Hosted by MenEngage Europe co-coordinating member, MÄN, the meeting was an invaluable opportunity for international exchange of experiences and strategies.

MenEngage Europe members Sandy Ruxton and Stephen Burrell carried out a survey to see how the COVID-19 crisis affected efforts to involve men and boys in gender equality. Launched at the 3rd MenEngage Global Symposium– the Ubuntu Symposium,the research report–MenEngage Europe’s first–was published by Durham University in partnership with the network. It helped raise awareness among MenEngage members and other stakeholders about the challenges the pandemic created for gender equality work.

Over 50 network members from 17 countries gathered in Seville, Spain for a MenEngage Europe meeting, hosted by MenEngage Iberia. The meeting was a  four-day event featuring workshops, strategy discussions, and a powerful public march against gender-based violence—marking its 15th year. Participants engaged in dialogue around feminist systems change, linking global principles to local action. Members explored key issues such as accountability, intersectionality, and solidarity across movements. The event highlighted men’s allyship in feminist spaces, culminating in collective actions, dancing, and reflection on how to advance gender justice across Europe.

In November 2022, MenEngage Europe held its first in-person members' meeting since the Covid-19 pandemic physical distancing imperatives. The meeting brought together organisations from across the region in Berlin, and provided a vital space to reconnect, share experiences, and reflect on the role of transforming masculinities amid rising anti-rights narratives in Europe. Members engaged in workshops on intersectional challenges, accountability, and anti-racism—facilitated by Nontokozo Sedibe. The meeting also included elections for a new Steering Committee and discussions on long-term sustainability. This gathering renewed members’ collective energy and commitment to gender justice and anti-racism across the region.

The network co-organised a National Forum in Albania on "Boys and Men who inspire - Transforming patriarchal masculinities." At the event, the MenEngage Europe Secretariat presented the network's work to local actors and met with gender equality organisations. The forum gathered actors working with men and boys in different parts of Albania and Kosovo and included presentations and in-depth discussions on ongoing initiatives and ways to strengthen them.

16 new members—10 organizations and 6 individuals—from across Europe including Austria, Turkey, the UK, Switzerland, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Albania, and Italy, joined the MenEngage Europe network. Membership from Turkey grew significantly with three new organizations joining. All new members underwent a rigorous vetting process involving peer references and online introductions to the network’s mission and accountability framework. Their diverse perspectives and expertise further enrich MenEngage Europe’s collective knowledge and strengthen its regional presence.

Network members formed a new working group focused on developing Positive Narratives—approaches that engage men and boys through value-driven, yet power-critical, frameworks. Working group members began collaborating on project proposals, laying the groundwork for deeper exploration in 2025.

MenEngage Europe’s Strategic Plan (2025–2028) outlines clear external goals— that gender-transformative work with men and boys is an increasingly integral part of gender equality work in Europe, challenge patriarchal norms, and strengthen alliances across movements. Internal goals focus on building a strong, accountable network grounded in feminist and anti-racist principles.

For many years, the European network had been hosted by Swedish member, MÄN. In 2025 the network's elected leadership fulfilled an ambition for MenEngage Europe to be registered as its own entity to provide greater independence and clarity in its activities, operations, strategy, and funding. In late 2025, a thorough recruitment process began to identify a new Director for the regional network. The new structure led to the establishment of a Board to replace the previous Steering Committee system.

A new European Director was appointed by the Board, following a thorough process set up and led by a recruitment committee.