Hundreds of men march in Switzerland to protest violence against women

Hundreds of men have led a demonstration in Switzerland’s capital, Bern, to denounce misogyny and violence against women, saying men need to take a more effective role in fighting both. The “Men Against Violence Against Women” rally outside parliament on Saturday follows persistent concerns that misogyny is too prevalent online among teenage boys and young men and that other men need to build a stronger counter-narrative.

The misogynistic views are pushed by the right-wing “manosphere” – a loose network of online forums and influencers that promote male supremacy and hostility to feminism. Such influencers were emboldened after Donald Trump won the US presidential election in 202 to justify and amplify misogynistic derision and threats online.

“We men are part of the problem – the problem being violence against women and queer people,” said Christoph Gosteli, a 42-year-old social worker who co-organised the rally with a group called maenner.