KEMEA welcomes Chief Justice advisory to dissolve Kenya Parliament
The Chief Justice of Kenya has advised President Uhuru Kenyatta to dissolve Parliament for failure to enact legislation on the two-thirds gender rule – a provision in the Constitution that directs that elective and appointive bodies, including Parliament, should not consist of more than two-thirds of the same gender. The two-thirds gender rule is aimed […]
KEMEA concerned about barriers to women’s participation in politics in Kenya
Ten years after Kenya’s new Constitution which makes it a legal imperative for increased women’s participation in politics – that women occupy at least a third of all seats in Parliament and a third of all appointed political positions – barriers still make it difficult for women’s full participation. Women from all political divides expressed […]
Webinar to highlight youths’ contributions during Covid-19
On International Youth Day – Wednesday, 12 August 2020 from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon CAT, MenEngage Africa and Sonke Gender Justice will be hosting a webinar to highlight the contributions of African youths to reducing the impact of Covid-19 on their peers. Hear all about it in this interview between Communications & Media Specialist, […]
Give the youth a chance!
“Getting the youth involved in development issues will bring positive changes to societies. Give the youth a chance and mentorship opportunities. Their role in development cannot be over emphasised” – International Youth Day 2020 message from Dr Chimamaka Asogwa, Executive Director for Growing the Girl Child Initiative in Nigeria, and member of MenEngage Africa Youth.
Ruling in Josina Machel matter is a travesty of justice
In a blow to all Mozambican women and girls threatened by abusive husbands or boyfriends, the country’s Higher Appeal Court has overturned the conviction of the man accused of beating Josina Machel, daughter of the country’s first President, Samora Machel, so badly that she lost the sight in her right eye. The violence occurred in […]
MenEngage Africa calls on Zimbabwe to stop rights abuses
MenEngage Africa joins other activists and civil society organisations to call on the authorities in Zimbabwe to desist from silencing and clamping down on activists and democracy and human rights defenders. The latest victim of this state-sponsored campaign is journalist, Hopewell Chin’ono, who has been detained for reporting on alleged government corruption in the procurement […]
Nigeria sees rape increases during lockdown
Nigeria has experienced a dramatic upsurge in rape cases nationwide since the start of the Covid-19 lockdown, with 3 600 cases reported. For more on this, Khopotso Bodibe spoke with Paul Osayande, Executive Director of Mercy and Peace Creation, a member of MenEngage Nigeria.
Madagascar lockdown impact on women & girls
Many countries are reporting increased levels of gender-based violence during lockdowns imposed by governments to slow down the spread of Covid-19. In Madagascar, the government has reintroduced full lockdown restrictions in the Analamanga region and the capital, Antananarivo. This means women risk facing further victimisation and abuse. Communications and Media Specialist for MenEngage Africa spoke […]
“We are in this together” – Kuraish Mubiru to HIV+ youths during Covid-19
At the height of the Covid-19 lockdown in Uganda, he took it upon himself to ensure that young people and other community members around the capital, Kampala – who would have otherwise not been able to collect their antiretroviral medication from health facilities because of movement restrictions imposed by the government to prevent the spread […]
Breaking the Covid-19 stigma in Nigeria
In Nigeria, Mercy and Peace Creation – a member of MenEngage Nigeria – is running a campaign to respond to the emerging stigma around Covid-19. Executive Director of the organisation, Paul Osayande, speaks with Khopotso Bodibe, about this important campaign.
Day of the African Child
Youth from across Africa share their views on the state of the African child in 2020 as the world marks International Day of the African Child on 16 June under challenges posed by Covid-19. Laura Sang is a young person from Kenya and works with MenEngage Africa Youth Alliance. Ogene Ogbodo is a young person […]
#HowICare Campaign
A number of organisations will be launching the #HowICare campaign ahead of Fathers’ Day 2020. This is an international, data-informed MenCare social media campaign aimed at shedding light on the ways individuals around the world are making sure their families are taken care of and to advocate for policy change and funding to support caregivers. Mpho Mabhena, […]
Babe Locotfo / Good Dad Campaign
Kwakha Indvodza, a member of MenEngage eSwatini has launched a campaign to challenge fathers in eSwatini to reflect and change their ways to adopt a more active role in the home, including child-raising responsibilities, in a deeply patriarchal and conservative society. Khopotso Bodibe, Communications and Media Specialist for MenEngage Africa Alliance, spoke with Tom Churchyard, […]
Innovating to provide drug rehab services during Covid-19
Necessity is truly the mother of invention. The Secretariat for MenEngage Nigeria, Society for the Improvement of Rural People (SIRP-Nigeria), has had to innovate to continue providing rehabilitative services to people with drug addiction. With Nigeria being one of many countries that have ordered movement restrictions on citizens in a bid to curtail the spread […]
MenEngage Botswana condemns MP for improper sexual relations with a minor
In Botswana, several civil society organisations, including MenEngage Botswana, have come out to condemn a ruling party Member of Parliament, Polson Majaga, amidst allegations of defiling a minor. In this podcast, MenEngage Africa’s Communications & Media Specialist, Khopotso Bodibe, is in conversation with Ontlametse Raleru, co-ordinator of MenEngage Botswana, to bring us some insight into […]
AfricaGender Indaba Edition 151
In this edition of AfricaGender Indaba, we’ll discuss sexual harassment in the film industry in South Africa – and efforts being made to address it. But first, we start in the southern African country of Botswana where a Member of Parliament is facing charges after allegations of improper sexual conduct with a minor or statutory […]
AfricaGender Indaba Edition 148
In this edition of AfricaGender Indaba, we profile Nokaneng, a mobile application aimed at addressing gender-based violence in Lesotho, especially during the Covid-19 lockdown. And Mpiwa Mangwiro, Campaigns & Advocacy Specialist for MenEngage Africa Alliance, looks ahead to Workers’ Day and how the world of work continues to discriminate against women.
Webinar: GBV during COVID-19 – Exploring practical responses
The global pandemic of COVID-19 has already seen a compound effect on existing gender inequalities, and increase risks of gender-based violence. Despite many countries enforcing lockdown protocols to curb the spread of the virus, community based organisations and civil society organisations have persevered to ensure continued support and services to survivors and victims of gender-based […]
AfricaGender Indaba Edition 145
In this edition of AfricaGender Indaba, Khopotso Bodibe and Mpiwa Mangwiro, Campaigns and Advocacy Specialist for MenEngage Africa Alliance, explore the gendered impact of the Coronavirus impact – and help bring to the spotlight the practical steps that men and boys can take to reduce and prevent the impact on women and girls. The show […]
COVID-19 threatens women’s and girls’ well-being & requires men and boys to come on board
The current Covid-19 pandemic is a major gender and inequity challenge at various levels of society, including in the home. Many governments have ordered lockdowns – citizens are urged to stay in their homes to limit the spread of the virus. With this arrangement, however, the threat of gender-based violence lurks around and the burden […]
The Role of Local Government in Preventing and Addressing Gender-Based Violence
On Thursday, 22nd August 2019, Sonke Gender Justice, in partnership with SAfm, co-hosted a live Outside Broadcast Dialogue focusing on “The Role of Local Government in Preventing and Addressing Gender-Based Violence,” as part of activities to mark Women’s Month. This podcast captures the dialogue as it went out on air.
State of the World’s Fathers Report 2019
The State of the World’s Fathers Report 2019 which is compiled by Promundo revealed that 50 minutes a day is the amount time men need every day taking care of the children and doing some chores in the house. This is a leap towards achieving gender equality. Ntokozo Mazibuko spoke to Wessel van der Berg […]
On fatherhood: The rights of fathers and fathers’ relationships with children
Eusebius McKaiser of Radio 702 spoke to Wessel Van Der Berg (MenCare Global Fatherhood), Kevin Rutter (Fathers in Africa) and Prof Mzikazi Nduna (Wits University) about a new study on the state of fatherhood in South Africa. Listen to the Podcast here.
Miss Curvy – MenEngage Uganda response
A storm is brewing in Uganda over a controversial new beauty contest known as Miss Curvy, which targets plus size women. The pageant was announced recently by the Minister for Tourism, Godfrey Kiwanda, who wants to use the women as products to increase tourism to the country. Women’s rights organisations are outraged by the launch […]