The objectives of celebrating an International Men’s Day, set out in “The Six Pillars of International Men’s Day”, include focusing on men’s and boys’ health, improving gender relations, promoting gender equality, and highlighting male role models.  It is an occasion to highlight discrimination against men and boys and to celebrate their achievements and contributions, in particular for their contributions to community, family, marriage, and child care.  The broader and ultimate aim of the event is to promote basic humanitarian value.

By the 1960s men started reporting about discrimination and inequality and they “have been agitating privately to make 23 Feb International Men’s Day, the equivalent of 8 March, which is International Women’s Day” Apparently, in the Soviet Union, Feb 23 was recognized as Red army and navy day. Though the day was informally viewed as the counterpart of the day March 8th, the International women’s day. Later, due to minimal historical focus, countries of the Soviet Union moved the International Men’s day to November 19.

In India, International Men’s Day is being celebrated right from 19th November 2007, after realizing the fact that Australia also celebrated the day.

In 2009 the following broad objectives were ratified as a basis for all International Men’s Day observations, and are applied equally to men and boys irrespective of their age, ability, social background, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious belief and relationship status:

• To promote positive male role models; not just movie stars and sportsmen but everyday, working class men who are living decent, honest lives.
• To celebrate men’s positive contributions to society, community, family, marriage, child care, and to the environment.
• To focus on men’s health and wellbeing; social, emotional, physical and spiritual.
• To highlight discrimination against men; in areas of social services, social attitudes and expectations, and law.
• To improve gender relations and promote gender equality.
• To create a safer, better world; where people can live free from harm and grow to reach their full potential

Every year, IMD is celebrated with a particular theme and this year, the theme is “Celebrating Men And Boys In All Their Diversity”

In March 2017 the theme of “Celebrating Men And Boys In All Their Diversity” was announced by the Global and Regional Coordinators. The emphasis on “..a “Call To Action” for individuals, institutions, and organizations to innovate the manner in which they design and deliver resources and support services which speak to the unique needs and issues of Men and Boys..”