It should be no secret that boys and men across the world are struggling. According to the research, boys are 50% more likely than girls to fail to meet proficiency standards in reading. Boys are more likely than girls to be the victims of violent crime.

Sadly, boys are 5 times more likely to end up in juvenile detention than girls, and 85% of boys detained by authorities grew up without a father figure in their lives. Tragically, 4 times more males than females die from suicide.

These sobering statistics don’t just affect boys and men; they negatively impact whole communities. As bestselling author Richard Reeves said in his excellent segment on The Daily Show in January 2025, it doesn’t have to be this way.

Richard explains in the video, ‘if we continue to just see men as problems, rather than also having problems, then it’s going to be a very, very difficult time for us over the next few years.’ Indeed.

In 2018, Dr Jerome Teelucksingh from Trinidad and Tobago, a country in the Caribbean, sent a letter to government leaders and NGO’s calling for the inaugural observance of the International Day of the Boy Child, now known as International Boys’ Day, on 16 May 2018. Dr Teelucksingh wrote:

On the media, there are regular incidents in which young, misguided boys and teenagers are involved in crime and violence. It is one of the Caribbean’s most challenging social problems. Not surprisingly, this is also a problem plaguing other nations across the globe.

There is little room for debate when I write, “We need to save the Boy Child.”

We need to protect the boy child from harmful influences. There is an urgent need to focus on the home and school to save the boy child. Boys live in a turbulent social environment that makes them vulnerable to a multitude of negative forces. If a boy child is neglected or fed a diet of hate and violence, it is obvious he will develop into a teenager who is misguided and confused. And the next crucial transition into manhood will be even more difficult.

Protecting the girl child is equally important. Many would be aware that since 2012, the United Nations marks 11 October as the “International Day of the Girl Child“. The obvious question is – why have we not dedicated a day that focuses on the Boy Child? We must not allow the continued imbalance of the gender scale.

We cannot ignore that without a focus on both the boy child and the girl child, gender equality is not a reality.

Too many of our boys are invisible and forgotten. Each boy is important and in this race of life, nobody should be left behind. It is within this context that the first observance of “International Day of the Boy Child”, henceforth known as “International Boys’ Day”, will be observed on 16 May.

Since that time, Dads4Kids has thrown its full support behind International Boys’ Day. In short, International Boys’ Day aims to highlight and address the unique needs and challenges that boys face the world over.

Earlier this week, Lisa Britton, a dear friend of Dads4Kids and wonderful advocate for men and boys, wrote in her excellent article “The UN Is All About Equality, Except When It Comes To Men“:

The UN, the grand institution of peace and equality, has a blind spot when it comes to half the world’s population. And no, it’s not the half that gets 16 dedicated days of recognition, including International Women’s Day, Girl Child Day, and even Rural Women’s Day. Boys and men, it appears, get the short end of the stick, or rather, no stick at all.

Dads4Kids is thankful for brave voices like Richard Reeves’, Dr Jerome Teelucksingh’s and Lisa Britton’s, but more needs to be done. We all must work together to highlight the issues and challenges that boys face as they develop into men. The good news is you can help Dads4Kids in this important work – please consider partnering with us today. Any support is certainly appreciated!

Lovework

As Lisa writes, ‘the boys, men, and fathers of this world matter, too’.

Hopefully one day soon, the UN officially recognises International Boys’ Day and International Men’s Day. In the meantime, let’s all keep doing what we can to advocate for boys and men. Celebrate in your own way and be sure to encourage the boys and men in your life.

If you’re a dad, grandad, or father figure with boys in your world, be the best you can be for them. Boys have a deep need to contend with someone or something. Commit to being the steadfast man in your boy’s life and help him reach his highest potential. One day, you’ll be glad you did.

Yours for our boys,
Nathaniel Marsh

P.S. If you’re encouraged by the work of Dads4Kids and can support our vision to build men, grow fathers, and change generations, please consider supporting us on a monthly basis.