If men want to stop being violent to the women in their lives, they will have to start with learning to manage anger. And help is at hand, in Penang for starters.

A men's crisis centre dubbed M2M - Men to Men Centre - was launched yesterday in conjunction with ongoing observance of World Human Rights Day and the White Ribbon campaign.

The White Ribbon campaign, taken up last week in Malaysia, is a global initiative by men to get other men involved in curbing violence against women.

Among groups that participated in the M2M launch and a three-day exhibition on human rights were Suaram Penang, social reform movement Aliran, citizens' organisation Save Ourselves, Catholic group Penang Office for Human Development, anti-war youth network Food Not Bombs and M2M.

The highlight was a display of six sexy advertisements which carried anti-sexist messages, and a camera attached to record the reactions of those viewing the posters.

Alternative solutions

Suaram Penang co-ordinator Choo Chon Kai said wearing a white ribbon is a personal pledge not to commit violence against women.

"It is a personal pledge not to condone, make excuses for the perpetrators and not to think that women asked for it," he said.

M2M chairperson Dr Rohana Ariffin said the association wants to provide men with alternatives in resolving issues of violence against women, while examining the increasing trend of domestic violence and rape.

"We want to shift the paradigm from women to men, as men have been part of the problem for far too long," she said.

"By running counselling services and awareness programmes, M2M will assist men from all levels of society, especially those facing various crises."

M2M member Bern Chua listed several ways in which men could help solve the problem. He said men should reach out and counsel men known to have committed violence against women.

"Men should also challenge all kinds of jokes and comments which downgrade the status of women," he said.

Penang Football Association exco member Gary Nair lashed out at violent men, describing them as "animals...not real men".

"Real men do not rape or behave violently against women because their mothers, sisters, wives and daughters are women, too," he added.