Reform – Resource Center for Men

Reform – ressurssenter for menn (Reform – Resource Center for Men) is a Norwegian politically independent non-profit foundation established in 2002. It works with gender equality from a male perspective, aiming to make the living conditions of men and boys visible and to contribute to equal worth in family and community life. The organisation describes itself as politically independent and works to ensure that men are included in gender equality work and that gender equality work includes men. Reform was created in 2002 as a three-year pilot project financed by the Norwegian Ministry of Children and Families (Barne- og familiedepartementet), and its operation was continued after an evaluation in 2004. It is headquartered in Oslo and operates nationally in Norway, with some Nordic and international project partnerships. Its daily leader is Are Saastad. The foundation runs several help services and projects, including Mannstelefonen (the Men's Helpline), the KAST project for men who buy sex, and courses in anger management and intimate partner violence. Mannstelefonen is open Monday to Thursday from 17:00 to 20:00. Reform also offers lectures and courses on topics concerning boys' and men's life situations, health, violence, relationships, and fatherhood. It publishes reports and brochures, including English-language publications from some of its projects. Reform has been the subject of public debate and criticism regarding its state funding. In 2012, allocations to the organisation from the Ministry of Children and Families led to a conflict-of-interest case in which the then minister Audun Lysbakken resigned from the government after criticism of the allocation process. Reform has also been criticised for receiving more in state funds than several women's organisations combined. Kvinnegruppa Ottar has criticised Reform for normalising prostitution and working against Norwegian law in that field, while former Storting representative for SV Torild Skard has criticised the allocations to Reform and pointed out that support for the men's organisation is higher than for women's organisations. In 2013, Reform, with support from the Nordic Council of Ministers, produced the report 'Hvordan motarbeide antifeminisme og høyreekstremisme' (How to Counter Anti-Feminism and Right-Wing Extremism), which analysed anti-feminist currents in the Nordic countries. Reform organises the National Men's Day Conference (Nasjonal mannsdagskonferanse), described as the most important gender equality conference for men, with the 2026 edition scheduled for 19 November.

Reform – ressurssenter for menn was established in 2002 as a three-year pilot project financed by the Norwegian Ministry of Children and Families (Barne- og familiedepartementet). Its operation was continued after an evaluation in 2004. The organisation is a politically independent non-profit foundation (stiftelse) headquartered in Oslo, Norway. From its founding, Reform has worked to promote gender equality with a focus on men and boys, aiming to make their living conditions visible and to contribute to equal worth in family and community life. Over the years it has developed several help services and projects, including Mannstelefonen (the Men's Helpline), the KAST project for men who buy sex, and courses in anger management and intimate partner violence. It also provides lectures and courses on topics concerning boys' and men's life situations, health, violence, relationships, and fatherhood. In 2012, allocations to Reform from the Ministry of Children and Families led to a conflict-of-interest case in which the then minister Audun Lysbakken resigned from the government after criticism of the allocation process. Reform has also been criticised for receiving more in state funds than several women's organisations combined. Kvinnegruppa Ottar has criticised Reform for normalising prostitution and working against Norwegian law in that field. Former Storting representative for SV Torild Skard has criticised the allocations to Reform and pointed out that support for the men's organisation is higher than for women's organisations. In 2013, Reform, with support from the Nordic Council of Ministers, produced the report 'Hvordan motarbeide antifeminisme og høyreekstremisme' (How to Counter Anti-Feminism and Right-Wing Extremism), which analysed anti-feminist currents in the Nordic countries. Reform organises the National Men's Day Conference (Nasjonal mannsdagskonferanse), described as the most important gender equality conference for men. The 2026 edition is scheduled for 19 November. The organisation continues to operate nationally in Norway, with some Nordic and international project partnerships, and its daily leader is Are Saastad.

• 2026

  National Men's Day Conference scheduled for 19 November.

• 2013

  Produced the report 'Hvordan motarbeide antifeminisme og høyreekstremisme' with support from the Nordic Council of Ministers.

• 2012

  Allocations from the Ministry of Children and Families led to a conflict-of-interest case; minister Audun Lysbakken resigned.

• 2004

  Operation continued after an evaluation.

• 2002

  Reform established as a three-year pilot project financed by the Ministry of Children and Families.

Politically independent non-profit foundation working with gender equality from a male perspective, providing knowledge, helplines, and courses on men's and boys' issues.

• Mannstelefonen (Men's Helpline)

  A helpline open Monday to Thursday from 17:00 to 20:00, phone 22 34 09 60.

• KAST (Kjøp av seksuelle tjenester)

  A free and anonymous conversation service for men who buy sex.

• Courses and lectures

  Courses and lectures on gender equality, boys' and men's life situations, health, violence, relationships, and fatherhood.

• Reports and publications

  Reports and brochures from projects, including English-language publications.

1. 1Reform – ressurssenter for mennreform.no
2. 2About Reform – Resource Center for Menreform.no
3. 3Reform ressurssenter for mennno.wikipedia.org
4. 4Wikidatawikidata.org