Sonke is extremely appreciative of the generous support provided by the Irene M. Staehelin Foundation, a charitable organisation dedicated to promoting social justice and human rights around the world. Their support has been instrumental in advancing our work to address gender-based violence and HIV in the Western and Northern Cape provinces in South Africa. Through this collaboration, Sonke has been able to strengthen community-driven approaches that empower marginalized populations, challenge harmful gender norms, and promote equitable health services. The Foundation’s generous contributions have supported transformative initiatives that enhance rights-based advocacy and foster safer, inclusive communities.
On 19 November 2024, the IMS Foundation board members visited Sonke’s Men’s Wellness Centre in the Western Cape. This visit provided an opportunity to witness the impact of Sonke’s work firsthand. Board members engaged with beneficiaries, who shared powerful testimonies of personal transformation, and participated in a Men’s Dialogue session with diverse stakeholders, including traditional leaders, health service providers, and LGBTQI advocates. These discussions highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts to promote men’s health, address GBVF, and end violence against women and children.
The partnership has enabled Sonke to scale up the Gugulethu Men’s Wellness Programme, conduct formative research into indigenous communities, and strengthen civil society’s capacity for policy advocacy. By leveraging media, religious, and traditional authorities, the Foundation’s support has also advanced community mobilization to hold duty-bearers accountable for delivering inclusive health services. Projects of this nature are crucial in our country especially because South Africa faces the intersecting crisis of GBV and HIV/AIDS with some of the highest rates globally. These projects have the ability to break the existing cycle of violence in homes as well as HIV/AIDS infection by fostering gender equality, improving access to healthcare services and empowering communities. As a result of this partnership, Sonke continues to build on our Rights, Action, Accountability and Sustainability model, scaling up efforts to empower local communities to address GBV and HIV.
This initiative emphasizes the vital role of men and boys in transforming harmful gender norms, while also promoting the leadership of marginalized groups, including indigenous communities. Together, we are creating a future where communities can access opportunities, healthcare, and rights, free from discrimination and violence. By addressing these issues holistically, we are not only solving present challenges but also paving the way for future generations to thrive in a more just and equitable society. We deeply value the support from Irene M. Staehelin Foundation and look forward to build on the impact from this strategic partnership.
The Mpumalanga Inkanyezi project team held a three-day training for elected officials, religious leaders, traditional authorities, and community representatives in collaboration with the Commission for Gender Equality, from the 13th to the 15th of November 2924.
The workshop was to capacitates participants to better understand feminist leadership. The session highlighted how feminist principles can motivate attempts to achieve more gender equality as follows:
Supporting Gender Equality: examining how feminist leadership can address the underlying causes of inequity while strengthening the rights of women.
Strengthening Networks: establishing and fostering linkages between feminist movements and women leaders to present an organized front for advocacy.
Empowering Advocacy: ensuring that women leaders’ voices are heard in decision-making processes by encouraging them to actively participate in feminist public policy advocacy.
‘’We combined knowledge, theory, and practical applications drawn from women’s leaders and organizations’ experiences during the session. Participants shared about leadership obstacles women encounter and tips on how to overcome these’’ said Sonke’s Senior Trainer Rhandzekile Mathebula
The Commission for Gender Equality led a session which focused on cultivating female leaders to promote gender equality. Commissioner Eurika Mogane emphasized on the importance of capacitating especially young women leaders.
‘’Gender equality is still a challenge in society despite advancements. It is imperative to keep opposing patriarchal norms and informing communities about the negative impact that they have on young girls and women, and we do this through our many interventions’’ Mogane said.
The meeting agreed that charity begins at home in terms of effectively addressing gender inequalities. ‘’From an early age, parents should encourage their children, regardless of gender, to share household duties equally. In addition to improving family dynamics, this approach will help lower gender-based violence. Boys can have a deeper awareness of the difficulties women encounter and develop greater empathy and respect by learning about the roles that are typically allocated to women’’ add Mogane.
The workshop provided a safe space for women to ventilate on various issues and learn from one another. A key takeaway from the session was one participant, who wished not to be named, who indicated that after the training, she now had the courage to run for the local ward councilor position in the upcoming elections, given the knowledge and encouragement received on how to navigate leadership roles from the trainings.
Sonke through the Inkanyezi project, continues to empower women leaders in Mpumalanga and Eastern Cape provinces.
Sonke is currently implementing a project in South Africa’s Northern Cape province, particularly in Platfontein, to prevent Gender-based violence and femicide as well as the spread of HIV/Aids.
Scaling up on Sonke’s interventions in South Africa, this three year project aims to strengthen the capacity of underserved communities in the Northern and Western Cape provinces and targets the Khoi and San communities, adolescent girls, women, men and boys.
“Through this project we want to empower local communities to actively participate in addressing social issues that affect them as well as to create awareness about the scourge of HIV/AIDS and GBVF, and demand access to quality health services. We know that when communities are knowledgeable about their rights, they are empowered to act and to hold duty bearers accountable.” said Dwaine Fish, Sonke’s Project Coordinator.
This project replicates the current implementation model of the Gugulethu Men’s Wellness Programme based in the Western Cape.
Research shows that the prevalence of STIs among women who have experienced violence is, at least, twice as high as in women who have not, with statistics showing a strong correlation also between GBVF and HIV.
Therefore, the wellness programme promotes positive health seeking behaviours among men and increases their uptake of medical health services, such as screening for high blood pressure, diabetes and HIV testing. Sonke believes when men are empowered to utilise health services, this will contribute to a reduction in infection rates and violence against women and girls.
“Overall through both these wellness programmes, we aim to reach over ninety men over a three-year period,” Fish confirmed.
Sonke together with two subawardees Bathopele NGO and Grassroots edge, have implemented several interventions to date. Here’s a high-level update of the activities conducted this year:
Community, stakeholder engagements and capacity building
We engaged the Northern Cape’s civil society organisations and government departments in July, to introduce the project to stakeholders. This was also an opportunity for attendees to express their plights. Key takeaways from this session were reflections from the participants citing challenges with language, being discriminated against based on their features and the lack of development in Platfontein.
To build the capacity of participants, we held a stakeholder’s workshop in July in Kimberly, an engagement which was led by Sonke’s Sub-Awards unit local sub grantees. The workshop was attended by over twenty participants including media and government officials as well as civil society organisations.
In August, the team conducted a community meeting in Platfontein at the !Xhunhwesa Combined School, which brought together over two hundred community members, to share the project’s baseline evaluation. We have also built partnerships with local media, namely the Rivival FM, Radio Teemaneng and the SABC XK Radio station, to raise awareness about the scourge of HIV and the impact of GBVF in the province.
Heritage Day
To celebrate and embrace the rich history and culture of the Khoi and San people, Sonke collaborated with the !Xhunkwesa Combine School, to celebrate Heritage Day in September. The day was celebrated through music, dance and drama activities, under the theme GBV is not my Heritage.
Grassroots Edge Holiday Camp
One of the subgrantees of the project, Grassroots Edge, hosted a Holiday School camp in Platfontein in June, which capacitated learners on Sexual and Reproductive Health and human rights.
Safe Space for Boys
We seek to expand on Sonke’s intersectional and gender transformative approach, with a focus on the role of men and boys as allies in the prevention of GBVF, by promoting positive masculinities and addressing harmful social norms. This will be done through a platform titled: Safe Space for Boys.
The platform aims to be an environment for men to freely share their feelings, to help deal with stress, a tool to educate and raise awareness on GBVF, Human Rights and HIV/AIDS through monthly hourly sessions, as well as a space for learning through arts and sports and for participants to become GBVF champions through peer learning.
The Summit of the Future brought together global leaders, innovators, activists, government representatives, and civil society leaders with a unified goal: to shape a more sustainable, just, and inclusive world. This great event was more than just another international gathering, it was a call to action, urging us to rethink global cooperation, human rights, and sustainability in unprecedented challenges.
As I reflect on the Summit’s significance, two key themes stand out: global solidarity and intergenerational equity. One of the most powerful messages echoed throughout the summit was the necessity of global solidarity. In the face of rising global inequalities, climate change, and ongoing humanitarian crises, the idea that “we are all in this together” gained renewed importance. No country, community, or individual can face these crises alone.
The Summit’s call for reinvigorated multilateralism emphasised the importance of cross-border cooperation among governments and civil society, private sectors, and grassroots movements. For LGBTQI+ communities, the emphasis on solidarity holds profound meaning. Seeing the conversation around inclusivity extend beyond traditional socio economic issues to encompass the fight for LGBTQI+ rights was heartening. Marginalised communities must be part of global solutions, not afterthoughts. As a representative of LGBTQI+ advocacy, I left the summit feeling a sense of renewed hope for global action that centres on justice for all, regardless of identity.
The Summit of the Future has positively impacted on my work as an advocate for gender and human rights by engraving me with sustainable knowledge of how different forms of discrimination, such as gender inequalities, and gender-based violence intersect and pose unbearable challenges for people across Africa. The Summit opened a space for reaffirmation of our global shared responsibility and bringing all actors from all spheres of life to recognise the need to champion gender transformative and inclusive approaches to achieving the Global 2030 target, which aligns with our strategy as MEA is to bring LGBTQI+ people to the centre of our programmes and to protect and promote their rights as part of our gender justice work.
However, it also opened a space focus as young leaders to connect and engage on how we as young people from all across the globe can engage in vital discussions to shape policy and accelerate change towards 2030, as part of my work to promote meaningful participation and inclusion of young people in key decision-making spaces, and the summit allowed us to craft sustainable solutions as global youth leaders on how we can ensure young people are the backbone and at the forefront of global development, which includes young people being at the forefront in championing gender equality and promoting positive masculinities. I personally feel this was a moment for me to collect, gather and document skills and experiences that other young people from across the globe are implementing to promote MIYP and integrate these skills within the African continent and within the organisation I am working. The MenEngage Africa work is to pioneer sustainable and positive youth leadership, the focus of MEA on youth leadership compliments with the Summit’s call for young people to occupy and hold spaces of power and pioneer global development.
The future belongs to the next generation, and this summit recognised that. Intergenerational equity emerged as a focal point of discussions, with youth voices being amplified across various platforms. This wasn’t just symbolic, there was an authentic commitment to empowering young people and ensuring that policies are developed with their future in mind. As someone representing youth, I appreciated this recognition and the practical steps being taken to integrate young leaders into decision-making processes.
This is crucial for LGBTQI+ youth, who often find themselves at the intersection of multiple forms of discrimination. The discussions around safeguarding the rights and well-being of younger generations, be it in terms of environmental stewardship, access to Education or protection from violence are deeply relevant to the queer community. The summit served as a reminder that our advocacy must always keep the needs of future generations in mind.
The Summit of the Future was a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of our world and the urgent need for global solidarity and intergenerational equity. As we move forward, we must continue to advocate for a world where all individuals, regardless of their age, gender, sexual orientation, or other identities, can thrive. The future of our planet depends on it.
Sonke Gender Justice recently concluded a three-year project aimed at promoting gender equality in Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Namibia. The Linking Policy and Implementation for Gender Equality project, funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) culminated in a close-out meeting in Malawi from the 16th to 17 of September. The meeting served as a platform for partners from the three countries to reflect on the project’s achievements and challenges over the past three years. Participants shared their proudest moments and discussed the progress made in linking policy and implementation to address harmful cultural norms and patriarchal attitudes that perpetuate gender inequality and human rights violations.
The Linking Policy and Implementation for Gender Equality in Malawi, Namibia, and Zimbabwe was a three-year project that began in October 2021 and concluded in September 2024. The project contributed to an increase in gender equality and a reduction of Gender Based Violence in Southern Africa.
“Looking back at where we started with the project to where we are, it is quite humbling to see how we are now seeing a keen interest from fathers to uptake some care responsibilities for their children. This was shown in the first ever State of Zimbabwe Fathers report released recently, that the MenEngage Zimbabwe network led on,” says Sonke’s Regional Programmes Coordinator, Mphokuhle Mabhena-Lunga.
Gender-based violence is a challenge in Southern Africa, one that disproportionately affects women. GBV has a significant negative economic and social impact on the region, with 50% of women in the region at risk of experiencing GBV. GBV is a human rights violation that comes with devastating consequences for individuals, families, communities, and societies.
Through various strategies, Sonke worked to strengthen the capacity of MenEngage Africa partners in Malawi, Namibia and Zimbabwe as well as the communities they work with to effectively address gender-based violence, promote women’s economic empowerment, and enhance women’s participation in decision-making processes. The project’s achievements include the decentralized, local capacity building and engagement with about 153 traditional and religious leaders, exceeding targeted 30 trainings by 510% on gender transformative approaches and the MenCare model, which rapidly resulted in widespread attitude and practice changes, cascaded to communities and local structures.
The project’s success can be attributed to the collaborative efforts of partners from the three countries, as well as the support provided by ADA. By linking policy and implementation, the project has made significant strides in creating a more equitable and just society for all.
“I am proud of the robust partnerships that have been cultivated among partners. I am proud of how the country leads have developed talent and allies with religious and traditional figures. I am particularly proud of the leaders that have emerged from our technical team within Sonke that have emerged through this experience, this has been the greatest satisfaction for me to witness”, said Sonke Regional Co-Unit Manager Diana Macauley.
As the project comes to a close, Sonke Gender Justice remains committed to promoting gender equality and human rights in the region. The organization will continue to work with partners to build on the successes achieved through this project and ensure that gender equality is a priority in future development efforts.
Sonke Gender Justice extends its heartfelt gratitude to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands for its unwavering support of the Generation G (Gen G) programme. This support, provided under the Power of Voices Partnership subsidy framework, has been instrumental in advancing gender equality and gender justice initiatives across Uganda, South Africa, and other program regions. The Ministry’s contribution continues to empower youth, women, and civil society to promote gender-transformative approaches and prevent gender-based violence (GBV).
For over a decade, Sonke has worked closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, initially through various smaller initiatives, which later evolved into the full-fledged Generation G programme. Through this partnership, Sonke and its coalition partners, including FIDA-Uganda, Reach A Hand Uganda (RAHU), and CEHURD, have tackled deep-rooted gender inequities and fostered inclusive environments where young people and women can thrive.
This collaboration has allowed Sonke to implement crucial programs in Uganda, such as engaging youth and community leaders in promoting gender justice and reducing harmful cultural practices. Key milestones include launching large-scale campaigns, fostering dialogues at the community level, and advocating for progressive policies in Uganda’s national and local governance structures. Sonke Gender Justice extends its deep appreciation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands for its steadfast support of the Generation G (Gen G) programme. This partnership has been crucial in advancing gender equality and promoting gender-transformative approaches across Uganda, South Africa, and beyond. Through this collaboration, Sonke and its coalition partners have empowered youth, women, and civil society organizations to take a leading role in gender justice advocacy and preventing gender-based violence (GBV).
The Gen G project has made significant strides in raising awareness about gender-related laws and fostering inclusive environments in communities. In Uganda, initiatives such as youth summits, intergenerational dialogues, and media campaigns have engaged young people and key stakeholders in addressing harmful cultural practices like Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and promoting gender equality. Moreover, the program’s efforts have led to increased youth leadership in local policy advocacy and the development of progressive gender-inclusive laws at both the national and district levels.
Looking ahead, Sonke and its partners, with continued support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will build on these successes to further strengthen advocacy for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and gender justice. By focusing on youth empowerment, policy influence, and strengthening civil society’s capacity, the Gen G programme aims to create lasting change and ensure a more just and equal future for all.
The MenEngage Africa Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights Learning and Exchange Symposium concluded in Nairobi, Kenya, leaving a lasting impact on the continent’s efforts to promote SRHR for all. The three-day event brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including government officials, civil society organisations, researchers, and community leaders, to share knowledge, experiences, and best practices under the theme PROGRESS 2024: “Promoting the realisation of SRHR and Gender Equality across Africa’’. With an attendance of over two hundred participants from all around Africa, Indonesia and The Netherlands. The symposium was the second of its kind, following the inaugural one that took place in South Africa last year. The symposium hosted twenty-one breakout rooms and three plenaries over three days.
“Every individual, regardless of age, gender, or background, has the right to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health,” said Deputy Ambassador Geir Arne Scheir of the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Nairobi. He also reaffirmed the commitment of the Government of Norway to gender equality and SRHR anchored in the belief that every individual regardless of age and ethnicity has access to the information needed to fully realise their SRHR.
Moreover, diverse stakeholders from civil society organisations (CSOs), embassies and international organisations gave opening remarks, all emphasising that SRHR are fundamental human rights essential for well-being, and that they are a cornerstone of social justice, gender justice and sustainable development. Maximina Jokonya (Executive Director, Y+ Global) noted that African youth continue to face barriers in accessing their human rights in all facets of their lives and highlighted the need to have honest conversations as a movement committed to ‘doing development differently’. This was echoed by Jacqueline Utamuriza-Nzisabira, Regional Policy Specialist for United Nations Women East and Southern Africa, speaking on behalf of Hodan Addou Regional Director for UN Women East and Southern Africa, urged on the need to prioritise addressing the structural drivers of inequalities that become the structural drivers of vulnerabilities to HIV transmission and SRHR violations such as economic inequality and harmful societal norms.
Bafana Khumalo Co-Executive Director, Sonke Gender Justice affirmed that achieving SRHR for all is a complex, multifaceted endeavours that requires commitment to feminist principles, collaboration, and dialogue, and that commitment must extend beyond the symposium walls to ‘the communities we serve and the lives we touch’.
The symposium served as a platform for participants to discuss critical issues related to men’s engagement in SRHR, such as gender-based violence, harmful gender norms, and access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services. Key themes explored during the event include:
Challenging harmful gender norms: Participants examined how traditional gender roles and stereotypes contribute to SRHR inequities and explored strategies for promoting gender equality.
Promoting men’s engagement in SRHR: The symposium discussed the importance of involving men and boys in SRHR programming and explored effective approaches to engage them as allies and advocates.
Addressing gender-based violence: Participants addressed the root causes of gender-based violence and discussed strategies for prevention, response, and support for survivors.
Improving access to SRHR services for men and boys: The symposium explored barriers to access to SRHR services for men and boys and discussed strategies for improving their availability and quality.
One of the highlights of the symposium was the presentation of innovative programs and initiatives that are making a difference in promoting SRHR among young people, men and boys in Africa. These included community-based interventions, educational programs, and advocacy campaigns.
The MenEngage Africa SRHR Learning and Exchange Symposium was a significant milestone in the continent’s efforts to advance SRHR for all. The event provided a valuable opportunity for stakeholders to connect, learn from each other, and develop collaborative partnerships to address the challenges and opportunities related to men’s engagement in SRHR.
As the symposium concluded, participants expressed their commitment to continuing the work initiated at the event and to using the knowledge and insights gained to drive positive change in their communities.
Sonke hosted a series of events during August, dubbed Women’s Month, in South Africa as a call for action against Gender-Based Violence. One of the events was a celebration of the milestones of the #TotalShutDown movement of 2018, which was a march against gender based violence in South Africa, while another was the capacitation of community-based organizations to strengthen advocacy on the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide.
Sonke, through its partnership with Irish Aid, played an important role in the #TotalShutDown protests and the establishment of the call-to-action civil society group that ultimately contributed to the drafting and passing of the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NSPGBVF) which was handed over to President Cyril Ramaphosa in April 2020.
The Community Education and Mobilisation Unit hosted a National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Design Thinking Workshop, in August to engage community-based organizations on advocacy methods to push for NSP-GBVF to be localized and implemented at the municipal government level.
On the first day of the two day workshop, participants were taken through each Pillar of the NSP in detail, to help them understand the key role players of the government in implementing each pillar and the role of civil society. Participants expressed concern about the lack of knowledge of the plan by government officials, and the lack of initiative by the local government structure to implement it.
During the workshop, participants reflected on their key organizational strengths and advocacy capabilities and designed an advocacy campaign that aligned with pillars of the NSP. This exercise gave a moment for the community based organisations to reflect on advocacy issues in their communities and the crucial role they can play in implementing advocacy strategies that could address GBVF and further hold duty bearers accountable for implementing the Plan.
Community Action Team member Gina Mthiyane said the workshop was insightful ‘’This was so helpful in understanding the NSP on GBVF. I now know that the work that I do is aligned with Pillar 4 on Economic Power. As a community, we can do more to link women with stakeholders for economic development and skill.”
On the 20th of August, Sonke celebrated the courage of civil society organizations and shared the best practices for building feminist support systems for survivors and the importance of peacebuilding in the prevention of the scourge of gender-based violence. Reflecting on the monumental #TotalShutDown demonstration, which saw thousands of South African women march to the Union Building, the event noted that a key element that made this movement successful was the mobilization of women, girls, and non-conforming people across different sectors.
Speaking at the event, founder and Executive Director of the Lady of Peace Community Foundation Dieketseng Diale emphasised the importance of familiarising ourselves with instruments like the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security to make strides towards peacebuilding in homes and communities. “Peacebuilding is a journey, it starts in the household, then to the community, and ultimately to the world at large’’ she said.
Women in attendance shared their lived experiences of GBV and how it has directly or indirectly affected their lives.
“It takes courage and support from family and friends for one to eventually leave an abusive relationship. Leaving does not heal you, but it starts the journey. Speaking about the abuse with other women who have gone through similar experiences helps to overcome the pain and shame of being abused. Let us normalize speaking out and supporting one another as women.” said one of the survivors in anonymity.
“All women are affected by Gender Based Violence one way or another and it is important to recognize that as women we need each other,” said Jane Chikwado, National Convenor of Black Womxn’s Caucus.
Best practices on building feminist safe healing spaces for women and girls and tips on how survivors of violence can rebuild their lives were shared in the meeting.
Sonke Gender Justice partnered with Save the Children on the SIDA programme to strengthen the capacity of Civil Society Organisations, CSO’s on implementing Gender Transformative Approaches, GTA for children’s rights and parenting by 2026. The program which now runs from 2022 and ends at the end of this year, works with CSOs based in Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa.
Sonke hosted a five day training session for fourteen CSOs in last year, capacitating them on GTA and how they can mainstream it in their respective organisations. Sonke also provided technical support to two CSO’s INERELA and the African Platform for Social Protection, that introduced GTA amongst their stakeholders and board members. The aim being to kickstart the process of orienting partners and their respective board members to plan for implementation on the ground.
According to Sonke’s Assistant Program Coordinator Nomhle Soni, ‘’the goal of the program is: a strong civil society that demands and supports the fulfilment of children’s rights, holding states to account and mobilizing and empowering children and their communities. Sonke’s goal, in response to that of SCI is to strengthen the capacity of these organisations on this methodology, we were considered for this opportunity as we are seen to be a gender expert in this humanitarian field’’.
As the partnership draws to a close by the end of 2024, Sonke has conducted monitoring, evaluation and support visits to the CSOs who participated in the training, to gauge whether they used GTA to review their programmes and the impact thereof if any, as well as to create opportunity for further collaborations for technical support and exchange learning beyond the project period.
‘’So far we have visited South African based organizations REPSSI and INERELA, in Kenya, the East African Child Rights Network and Ugandan based Pan African Human Rights Defenders Network’’ said Dr Deliwe Menyuko, Sonke’s Regional Programmes Coordinator for Child Rights, Parenting and Mencare.
During Sonke’s monitoring visit to INERELA, the Regional Coordinator Bobo Chazireni, indicated that the engagement with Sonke was critical for the organization as they are also restructuring, so they are relying on GTA methodologies in this regard. ‘’During our organisational capacity assessment process, we noticed that there are gaps in terms of gender disparities. At board level it was also noted that there is a need to strengthen policies around gender issues. In the upper management we are still looking for female leadership. We have policies which guide recruitment of staff members, they provide equal opportunities for all. The idea is to strengthen this process in line with gender transformation. We have also noted the importance of empowerment to be linked to gender parity processes’’ he said.
Ugandan based Pan African Human Rights Defenders Network facilitates programmes using the GTA, as the training from Sonke strengthened their work. ‘’They indicated that they would like for Sonke to conduct training for the whole staff of Uganda and other offices in the region, as they have a lot to learn from us’’ said Dr Deliwe Menyuko, Sonke’s Regional Programmes Coordinator: Child Rights, Parenting and Mencare.
East African Child Rights Network Executive Director Benedict Omillo, believesgender transformation is not an event but a process, ‘’ I believe a number our member countries and partners still needs capacitation on GTA, and how to approach it from a child rights lens, which is a missing link, we are now at a time where a good program should be evaluated according to how it embeds and applies this GTA across the continent’’.
Sonke seeks to ensure that all CSOs within this project are gender transformative or at least are making efforts in that direction, as per requirements of SIDA.
The Power to You(th) Programme has started a global initiative dubbed #HearUsOut campaign to promote the rights of young people and elevate their voices and aspirations. This campaign calls on communities and local leaders to address issues that influence the lives of young people and ensure that youths are heard on issues that are critical for the latter’s empowerment. Click this link to engage in our campaign and spread the word.
Power To Youth Malawi is engaging in this campaign by calling on stakeholders to act on addressing issues of unemployment plaguing young people and frustrating them to engage in negative coping mechanisms which prevent them from attaining their potential. The creation of employment opportunities will help them to better engage and contribute to the improvement of their lives and communities. Watch this video to hear from youths in Malawi.
Youth in Malawi are raising awareness against negative social norms like early and child marriage, gender-based violence and low school attendance and calling on leaders to promote the education of young girls. When girls’ education is promoted, it will reduce the prevalence of teenage and unwanted pregnancies and child marriage. It will help young girls be eligible and able to access opportunities and become the best versions of themselves. Watch this video to learn more.
Power To Youth Uganda has engaged in the #HearUsOut campaign by sampling the opinions of young people on issues that young people are facing in their communities. Among the opinions sampled are lack of access to that Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights services for young people like contraception services, family planning and education on reproductive health and rights. The major ask is for the government and local authorities to become more intentional about ensuring that SRHR services are youth friendly.
Also evident in Bukwo District Uganda is the prevalence of juvenile delinquency among youths and adolescents with rising cases of drug abuse , and alcoholism leading to teenage, and unwanted pregnancies , high crime wave, school dropout and reckless lifestyle. There is a need for community education, sensitisation and youth-friendly services.
This campaign is centred on ensuring that youths speak up, are heard and seen. Know more by visiting this link.
Twenty-five fellows from West, Central, East and Southern Africa are now equipped with knowledge on International Instruments and Frameworks on Human Rights, the Women Peace and Security agenda, skills to identify and deconstruct the structural drivers of conflict as well as how to engage in joint advocacy for the effective implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 and 2250. They also understand the African Union Silencing the Guns campaign and skills for working with men and boys for feminist peace. This is an aftermath of MenEngage Africa Training Institute, dubbed #MATI2024, on Gender, Peace and Security.
This fellowship co-organized and facilitated by Women International League for Peace and Freedom and Sonke Gender Justice utilized the hybrid model of training, consisting in three weeks online self-paced learning from 1st – 31st July in partnership with Gender Equality Studies and Training Program, Gro Gest of the University of Iceland and one week in-person training from 12-16th August in Nairobi, Kenya. The online session focused on grounding participants on the concepts, testing their understanding of the course as well as helping them reflect on knowledge gained through weekly assignments.
The in-person session was a platform for detailed and though-provoking presentations, group work, plenary discussions and sharing of country experiences centered around the gendered dimension of war, implementation of WPS , masculinities and peace processes.
Presentations were on major concepts and themes like the structural drivers of conflict viz toxic masculinities , violence against women and girls, negative and harmful cultural practices , women and girls used as weapon of wars, framework on Gender, Peace and Security like the Maputo Protocol , The AU Silencing The Guns Campaigns , The UNSCR 1325 and 2250 which emphasizes meaningful inclusion of women and youths in peace processes respectively, as well as the Kinshasa Declaration and the call to action of African Union leaders to promote positive masculinity as a way to end violence against women and girls.
The Training was conducted through group work, plenary sessions and sharing of good practices.
Group Work
This set the pace for participants to coordinate themselves, put ideas together and deliberated on thematic like the structural drivers of conflict. They also discussed strategies for mainstreaming knowledge gained in their respective communities and action plans for their various interventions like feedback sessions, sensitization campaigns and local partnerships with traditional and religious leaders as a head of households.
Plenary Sessions and Discourses
Some of the subjects discussed during the plenary included -The MenEngage Alliance: an accountable and feminist approach to engaging men for gender equality and peace in Africa and Programmatic interventions to mobilise men for gender equality and peace in Africa: WILPF Cameroon working to end violence extremism within the context of armed conflict, MenEngage South Sudan working with community actors in providing mental health support to persons who have experienced repeated forms of traumatic events in fragile settings, MenEngage Nigeria working on community sensitisation on gender equality and prevention of violence against women and girls as a weapons of armed conflicts.
The discourse on working with men as boys as allies in the struggle for gender equality and feminist peace in Africa was delivered by- Bafana Khumalo, Co-Ed Sonke Gender Justice and member of the board of MenEngage Alliance who outline the context of MenEngage in Africa and how working with men and boys is pivotal for attaining gender equality and feminist peace.
“The conception of masculinities remains strongly tied to war and aggression, and this is how communities normalize negative masculinities. The feminist agenda for peace should aim to dismantle harmful norms and should have a transformative agenda which informs all socioeconomic and political inequalities. Accountability is also fundamental for engaging men and boys for gender justice. As MenEngage Africa, accountability must be practiced individually and collectively to address power and privilege and the importance of representation of women which can never be over emphasized.” – Bafana Khumalo, Co-Ed Sonke Gender Justice and member of the board of MenEngage Alliance.
The collective action of women and men in the Kenyan Protest against the rising cost of living, young unemployment and to reject the 2024 finance bill. As a result of the collective action, this bill was withdrawn following the suppression of the protest, loss of lives and other casualties. Women participated in these protests as leaders, mobilized others and were also inspired by the Mau Mua movement and other forms of activism that have brought about change in the world.
Structural drivers of conflict like alcoholism, customs and traditions, harmful practices, Gender-based violence, underrepresentation of women in some sectors which intersect with other factors to escalate conflict and destabilize communities.
Sharing of Country Experiences
The unique experiences of fellows intrigued conversations for strengthening partnerships, creating communities of practice, proposing solutions to challenges and superficial practices like tokenism and youth exploitation, peer learning, best practices and networking.
Trained fellows are currently working on communication products highlighting their MATI experience and are expected to contribute to enhancing WPS processes. Some of them had this to say towards the end of the in-person training
“The online course was friendly, and I was able to manoeuvre. It was interesting and I had time to reflect on the self-paced course. Now, the in-person session is very good because it’s gives more technical content coupled with examples from other contexts. It has also ignited my mind and given me inspiration on coming up with similar activities in my country.” Enele Zulu, MenEngage South Africa
According to Gat’Panuy Wuay from MenEngage South Sudan, this training gives more grounding for his work. ‘’In South Sudan, we are at a difficult moment. I relate with a lot of things that have been shared, but also ensure to intentionally integrate it into the work we are doing. Also, it will help me add more content on our ongoing trauma healing program for young people most of whom have lost their loved ones. This training also helps me to mainstream activities from a gender sensitive approach and understand how masculinities, social and structural drivers are contributing to conflict.”
“At first, it was difficult for me to relate all the concepts to my work. Now, I am enjoying the onsite session so far because the different causes of conflict have been shared,” Ncamiso Makhanya, MenEngage Swaziland.
“I was able to understand the concepts based on other examples from other countries. I intend to restitute with my country network and so we can work more on gender, peace and security,” Uriele Tomety, MenEngage Togo.
The 2024 AIDS conference which took place in Munich, Germany from 22-26 July 2024, brought together global leaders, scientists, advocates, and communities under the theme Put People First! to advance progress towards the shared global goal of ending AIDS by 2030. Power To Youth Uganda hosted a workshop on designing gender positive interventions for HIV prevention in young people. MenEngage Africa examined how the Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Act is preventing LGBTQI+ persons from accessing HIV services and the role of MenEngage Uganda in helping them access these services.
Organised by the International AIDS Society Conference, AIDS 2024 exhibited innovative scientific advancements, tech-inclined, community-driven, and a collective of advocates and civil societies working to address key issues around access to the latest developments, and a renewed political and diplomatic commitment to maintaining an effective HIV response through people-centred approaches. The conference featured oral abstract sessions, invited-speaker sessions, workshops, pre-conference events, symposia sessions, satellite sessions, and poster presentations.
The Power To Youth session on designing gender positive interventions for HIV prevention in young people started off with a value clarification exercise to understand the value system of participants and give them an opportunity to self-interrogate on how these values can influence gender programming priorities for young people on HIV/AIDS related issues. It was also an opportunity for participants to be exposed to in perspectives and how this can impact on gender programming for young people.
Participants were then put in groups to share their ideas on qualities of gender programming that reflects and addresses the needs of young people. The group activities provided answers to the following submissions:
What comes to your mind when you think about gender programming for young people? Key highlights from participants indicated that, gender programming for youth should uphold equality and equity, inclusivity, data disaggregation, co-leadership between young people and respect diversity. Also, there is a need for such programming to be action-oriented with empowerment components.
What strategies has your organization utilized as regards gender programming for young people?The following strategies were enlisted by participants; community engagement, movement building for advocacy; inclusion of all dynamics; Sensitization and education initiatives; Self-care retreats; Peer to peer model; Collaborations and sharing of lessons. These strategies are used in their different organisations to ensure that young people are meaningfully engaged and have safe spaces to share their experiences.
What are the existing gaps and challenges your organization has faced as regards gender programming for young people? Participants acknowledged that there are existing gaps and challenges working with young people especially on issues related to HIV/AIDS. These include but are not limited to:
Lack of local leaders’ commitment.
Lack of sustainable solutions to go beyond the programme timeline.
Limited funding Stigma and discrimination.
Existing myths and misconception make implementation harder.
Project time frames are quite limiting.
Existing stereotypesPoor dissemination of gender lens guide.
Limited knowledge on gender programming.
By the end of this workshop, participants committed to be more supportive of gender responsive programs and remain intentional in making sure the voices of young people are taken into consideration.
The MenEngage In-person poster presentation comprised of knowledge sharing with visitors at the poster stand on the discrimination faced by LGBTQI+ people in Uganda. On April 3, 2024, Uganda’s Constitutional Court upheld key provisions of the 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA). This criminalised and reinforced discrimination against the LGBTQI+ thus increasing their vulnerability. This has prevented them from freely accessing SRHR services, which goes against the 2030 goal of eradicating HIV/AIDS prevalence. It also demonstrates lack of inclusion and non-recognition of diversity in health care which is an inalienable human right.
Discussions at the poster presentation emphasised the urgent need to address the intersection of HIV and LGBTQ+ rights in the context of discriminatory legislation, while underscoring the role of organizations like MenEngage Uganda in upholding the health and dignity of LGBTI individuals living with HIV in Uganda.
Major takeaways from the world’s biggest conference on AIDS pinpointed on;
The Cure: inspiring stakeholders and people living with HIV to relentlessly keep on track and find a cure that works for everyone
Leadership, policy and funding; the biggest limitation for eradicating HIV by 20230 is the drastic drop in funding. 370 representatives from over 45 countries came together to reinforce political commitment and diplomatic ties to put people first and harness more funding for ending HIV
DoxyPrEP and DoxyPEP; these terms echoed during the AIDS 2024 conference. “DoxyPrEP” (doxycycline pre-exposure prophylaxis, the antibiotic taken before sex and “DoxyPEP” (doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis, the antibiotic taken after sex to prevent acquiring the virus and other sexually transmissible infections.
Stigma, discrimination and criminalisation; these continue to impede progress towards HIV response with so much stigma experienced by people living with HIV/AIDS, discrimination and criminalisation of LBGTQI+ people like the Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Act and anti-gay legislation in Ghana preventing free access to HIV services.
Long-Acting technologies; through long-acting injectables which offers an alternative to taking daily PrEP and overcome challenges in accessing daily medication. Gilead’s twice-yearly injectable lenacapavir is an example of a long-acting technology for prevention of HIV. UNAIDS Executive Director, Winnie Byanyima referred to it as a “miracle prevention tool.” The pricing of lenacapavir raised concerns, as low- and middle-income countries cannot afford it. Amidst advocacy to make it more affordable at 100 USD and subsequently between 40-35USD, the high demand for Gilead’s lenacapavir also calls for mass production for generic lenacapavir under voluntary licensing. Outgoing IAS President Sharon Lewin stated during the closing ceremony, “breakthroughs in medicine are only meaningful when people who need those medicines can access them.”
The implementation of the Inkanyezi Project continues in the Amathole East District of the Eastern Cape, as well as the Ehlanzeni District of Mpumalanga Provinces. Through this four-year project, Sonke seeks to use a feminist and human rights-based approach to achieve gender equality.
Here are latest highlights of activities taking place in Mpumalanga under this project.
Bushbuckridge HIV Prevention Summit
The Inkanyezi Project team attended the Bushbuckridge HIV Prevention Summit from the 6th to the 7th August 2024. The purpose of which was to review the municipality’s implementation of HIV prevention projects since 2022. Sonke presented on the intersection of HIV/AIDS and Gender Based Violence. In the submission, Sonke recommended the following in accordance with the ALIV[H]E Framework, to help reduce GBVF and HIV transmission:
Raising awareness of harmful social and gender norms that underpin gender inequality in Social Behavioural Change programmes.
Research that highlights increased levels of violence against women in their diversity and ways to address this through collaborations.
Using media to engage religious leaders, political and traditional leadership.
Organisations working on HIV and violence against women themes to reinforce the values of human rights, sexual and reproductive health and rights, participation, gender equality, safety, evidence-informed responses and respect for diversity.
Stronger networking and cross-movement building to work on effective interventions to address intersections between HIV and gender-based violence.
Mkhuhlu Community dialogue
The Inkanyezi project is monitoring a court case of a rape by a local pastor in Mpumalanga. Due to the community’s support of this case, Sonke subsequently received two reported cases of rape to monitor. Against this backdrop, Sonke hosted a community dialogue at the Mkhuhlu township Ward 1 Ma-F, to educate community members about human rights, gender-based violence and services available to them.
The gathering was a platform for stakeholders to understand some of the challenges faced by the community and to also use Arts as an advocacy tool in addressing GBV, as such the Inkanyezi project partnered with One Sound One team who performed a drama piece on Domestic Violence, Femicide and Homophobia. Among other stakeholders in attendance was Greater rape intervention programme (GRIP), South African Police Services (SAPS), Save the Children South Africa and Wisani Community Project.
Community Action Team members and Young Women Leaders training on Governance and Women’s Leadership
The Inkanyezi project facilitated a three day training on governance and women’s leadership from the 13th to the 15th of August 2024. Of the 35 participants in attendance, six were young women leaders serving in political and religious spaces.
Community Action Teams members who serve at Bushbuckridge local municipality as ward councillors, chairpersons for young people at the church, community health care workers, child and youth care workers and community mobilisers from different organisations, were also in attendance.
The purpose of the training was to capacitate participants on women’s leadership and governance roles in the community, as well as to provide women with the necessary information to actively participate in transforming their communities.
Outcomes of the Training
Participants acknowledged that the training has helped them to understand their communities better and how lack of services has an impact in women’s lives. They also indicated that decisions are made on their behalf and their voices are not heard because they do not attend and participate in community activities and consultations. Participants emphasised that as a result of this training, they are going to start supporting women in leadership roles so that their needs as women are met. They added that things may be better if gender equality is incorporated into all systems. One participant said, “Teaching our children about gender norms at a young age will assist in addressing gender equality.” Action plans were developed to address community challenges where they will collaborate with community leaders and other stakeholders in addressing their challenges.
“Injury Mortality Surveillance in Mpumalanga: Towards the 2030 Violence Prevention Agenda” Colloquium
On the 21st of August Sonke participated on the panel discussion about ‘’What is needed for violence prevention: Policy, Capacity and Partners Mobilisation” at the Injury Mortality Surveillance in Mpumalanga: Towards the 2030 Violence Prevention Agenda” Colloquium, in Mpumalanga, as hosted by the University of South Africa and the South African Medical Research Council.
The gathering focused on the troubling changes in the epidemiological patterns of injury mortality that have emerged in Mpumalanga, where homicide is now the leading contributor to injury mortality. The intention of the meeting was to stimulate efforts to promote an integrated, national violence and injury surveillance system in support of South Africa’s 2020 NDP.
In her presentation, Inkanyezi Project Manager Nomalanga Ngwenya shared that in preventing violence ‘’ there is no one-size-fits-all strategy that works. To do this, we must first identify the people who are at risk and the communities that the victims and survivors are from. Women and girls who identify as LGBTQIA+, women from ethnic minorities, older women, young and teenage girls, women with disabilities, refugees and migrants and vulnerable to GBVF. Once this is understood, we can utilise the socio-ecological model to identify the several areas of which that individual is a part and ascertain what attitudes, knowledge, and beliefs are used in those different spheres to either eradicate or perpetuate GBVF’’.
She emphasised that Sonke in collaboration with the government and civil society forums, has undertaken the various initiatives to address GBVF and promote gender equality through the Inkanyezi project.‘’ Encouraging men to be allies, including women in leadership positions and decision-making processes, adopting transformative feminist methods to address gender inequality, including in the home as well empowering women economically, these are just some of the solutions to GBV prevention’’ she concludes.
In the ongoing MenEngage Africa Training Institute session on Gender, Peace, and Security, which started on the 12th of August 2024, discussion have focused on transforming masculinities and engaging men and boys for gender equality and peace, the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda, the Youth Peace and Security (YPS) agenda, discourse around feminist peace and frameworks for peace and security in Africa, and structural drivers of conflicts.
Interactions covered the gendered impact of conflict and how men and women are differently involved in and impacted by conflicts. Instances of sexual violence as a weapon of war mostly experienced by women and girls, the intersection of gender with other factors such as gender stereotypes, harmful practices that influence conflict, and negative masculinities. To counter the growing conflicts in communities, there is a need for engaging women and girls and entrusting them in leadership positions to harness more collective efforts in peace and security. Also, there is need for increased sensitisation, media awareness, policy advocacy, and lobbying to help communities develop positive attitudes and recognise the importance of youth innovation in peace and security.
Inclusion as an important point to consider when working to prevent violent conflict by engaging women as key actors of peace (Women, Peace, and Security Agenda, UNSCR1325) and the youth (Youth Peace and Security Agenda, UNSCR2250), which emphasizes ensuring meaningful participation of women and youths as well as ensuring their protection. Engaging youths in the promotion of peace and encouraging them to leverage social media as a tool for peace and social justice by fighting hate speech and misinformation. Youths engage in the verification of information before sharing, participating in peacebuilding online campaigns and spaces, and spreading content that helps to promote peaceful environments. The Youth Peace and Security Agenda also needs to be promoted through the creation of equal opportunities for youths and reinforcing commitment to the pillars of youth in peacebuilding.
The MenEngage Africa Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights Learning and Exchange symposium in Nairobi, Kenya proved to be a transformative experience for all who participated. Over the course of three days, attendees had an opportunity to engage with a diverse range of perspectives and experiences on SRHR. The symposium served as an important platform to bring together diverse practitioners, policy makers, community gatekeepers and young people in all their diversities to unpack youth involvement and participation in knowledge sharing and development of SRHR priorities in Africa.
The day began with a panel of youth voices on SRHR Policy in Africa. Diverse youth advocates including young women, young people living with HIV and young queer people shared their experiences with SRHR in their communities. The panellists noted that the lack of access to accurate information when they were children impacted their ability to fully access critical health services in adulthood like contraception and family planning. It also impacted their ability to address the violations they’ve faced in childhood. They highlighted the need to have young people in policy spaces and specifically called for other youth advocates to ensure that they create structured feedback mechanisms to co-create solutions with their communities in all their diversity.
This was followed by an abstract presentation session where the presenters highlighted research on the challenges that young people face in accessing SRHR and potential evidence-backed solutions. Presenters noted critical drivers of vulnerability to SRHR violations and HIV transmission, including family structure instability, restrictive policies, humanitarian and emergency settings, including conflict and climate change, and the social stigma of marginalised youth populations, such as LBQTGNC persons. Key solutions highlighted included conducting advocacy forums with key stakeholders, such as health workers and religious leaders, and innovative ways to share information with young people, like hotlines.
Participants then proceeded into breakout sessions that covered a range of strategy-building and experience-sharing sessions. In a discussion on Dealing with the Opposition: Implementing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in the face of the Anti-Rights Movement, participants shared their experiences with the growing influence of resourced anti-rights, anti-gender actors within the continent and emphasised the need to build public support for SRHR, reframe narratives and leverage youth engagement. Participants also shared their experiences with the MenCare programme in a session on Sharing and Learning from Experiences within the Region.
The discussion on funding for youth continued into the afternoon during a Donor Forum at the main plenary. Representatives from the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Nairobi and the Embassy of Ireland in Kenya shared insights into their funding priorities for SRHR and how youth organisations can access such funding. An interactive session READY for the Summit of the Future highlighted youth priorities for the Pact for the Future, emphasising the need for increased youth-led political participation, democracy, and governance. Youth advocates were urged to work strategically to ensure health-related advocacy agendas feature more prominently in influential platforms.
The symposium may have come to a close, but our work doesn’t end here. Continue with the conversion, both online and offline! Please stay tuned to our social media channels for updates. For now, it’s goodbye. See you soon.
Day 2 of the MenEngage Africa Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights Learning and Exchange Symposium opened with a plenary panel session on Building Bridges Across Borders aimed at fostering cross-regional collaboration on SRHR. The importance of adopting intersectional frameworks was highlighted, particularly in identifying points of commonality and how these are used to entrench inequality and identifying meaningful remedies to structural inequalities. Funding or lack thereof was also a major takeaway from the panel and the participants.
This was followed by an Abstract Presentation Session where eight presenters highlighted best practices in advancing SRHR across the region. Key best practices highlighted include employing community-led interventions to ensure relevance, community buy-in and sustainability, the need for evidence-based approaches, and targeting marginalised communities as well as the diverse stakeholders that affect their access to SRHR.
Day 2 featured a variety of workshops, including Why Engaging Men and Boys is Crucial for a Gender Equitable World, SRHR Self-Care and Mental Health for Youth, SRHR and Male Engagement Prioritisation, Resource Mobilisation and many more.These breakout sessions emphasised the importance young people need to be at the forefront of advocating for access to SRHR information and services, and partners were encouraged to invest more heavily in enhancing youth capacity and meaningful participation.
Stay connected by checking out the social media pages of MenEngage Africa and Sonke Gender Justice and spread the word by using #MEASRHR2024 and #Progress2024. A full social media guide can be found on our website.
In our work promoting Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR), it is evident that better coordination is essential. By coming together, gathering evidence, and exchanging experiences, we can strengthen our efforts, identify gaps, and co-create impactful strategies for programmatic, policy, and advocacy actions, said Jude Theddues Njikem during the opening ceremony of the 2nd instalment of the MenEngage Africa Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights Learning and Exchange Symposium
Yesterday marked the beginning of #MEASRHR2024 in Nairobi, Kenya, an important symposium where young people took the helm to drive meaningful discussions from the forefront. The opening ceremony included the opening remarks from Sonke Gender Justice’s Executive Director, Bafana Khumalo, Maximina Jokonya of Y+ Global, Deputy Ambassador and Royal Norwegian Embassy in Nairobi, Geir Arne Schei.
Key highlights
Jacqueline Utamuriza-Nzisabira gave a keynote address at the opening Plenary on Policy Frameworks and Gap Analysis, emphasising the strength of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) resolution 60/2. The plenary, moderated by Sonke’s Regional SRHR Coordinator Runyararo Mutariswa, focused on providing an overall assessment of the implementation of Resolution 60/2 in Africa. The panelists included,, Itumeleng Komanyane (Frontline AIDS), Lilian Njeri (ATHENA Network), Irene Ogeta (ATHENA Network), and Dr. Jean-Basco Butera, Board Chairperson of the Center for Inclusive and Sustainable Development (CISD), noted that there was a long way to go in terms of the implementation of the resolution.While African states have done well with processes relating to the uptake of policy frameworks, there remains a gap in implementation with regards to Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE), gender equality, gender-based violence, and universal health coverage. This is driven largely by unstable political environments and a lack of investment in domestic resources. It is important moving forward for us, as African people, to hold governments accountable and ensure that all people are involved in the conversations about resource allocations and program rollout.
The plenary session was followed by nine breakout rooms organised by different partners which included discussions with religious and traditional leaders on social norms and positive masculinity, SRHR policies and so many others.
Stay connected by checking out the social media pages of MenEngage Africa and Sonke Gender Justice and spread the word by using #MEASRHR2024 and #Progress2024. A full social media guide can be found on our website.
We are participating in this year’s 25th International AIDS Society – #IAS2024 conference from the 22nd – 26th July 2024 in Munich, Germany and virtually. Dubbed #PutPeopleFirst, this conference will bring together individuals from around the world impacted by HIV/AIDS and professionals working on AIDS. Sonke Gender Justice aims to share community realities related to AIDS with focus on activities of the PowerToYouth Program and the MenEngage network.
Our team will be hosting two events to show the intersections of accessing services and positive interventions for HIV prevention among young people. Here is a rundown of the events.
The Threat of Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act to the Health and life of LGBTIQ+ People Living with HIV and the Role of MenEngage Uganda in Ensuring Continued Access to Services
Date: 23rd July 2024 Time: 12:00-13:00 CET Venue: In-person poster exhibition area
This poster presentation will highlight the urgent need to address the intersection of HIV and LGBTQ+ rights in the context of discriminatory legislation, while underscoring the pivotal role of organizations like MenEngage Uganda in upholding the health and dignity of LGBTI individuals living with HIV in Uganda.
Uganda’s recent enactment of the Anti-Homosexuality Act-AHA heightened the vulnerability of the LGBTI community, particularly those living with HIV as required health workers, legal service providers and others to report LGBTQ+ members seeking services to police for appropriate action, posing a significant threat to the health and well-being of LGBTI individuals, impeding their access to essential HIV-related services and putting them at increased risk of stigma, discrimination, and violence.
Challenging the script: Designing gender-positive interventions for HIV prevention in young people.
Date: 23rd July 2024 Time: 13:30 -15-30 CET Venue: Global Village session room 2
This workshop with our Power To You(th) partner will be analysing HIV prevention strategies by challenging traditional gender norms. Participants will examine the impact of gender, ethnicity and socioeconomic factors on HIV vulnerability. Participants will share their views on existing interventions against #AIDS through positive messaging. Interactive exercises and case studies that promote practical application of gender-positive principles, fostering collaboration, will stimulate conversations for more meaningful youth-centred interventions.
During our participation in this conference, we hope to engage in learning sessions, create connections and foster collaboration for interventions against the prevalence of HIV/AIDS, #PutPeopleFirst.
USAID Khutlo Activity through its implementing partners, Lesotho Planned Parenthood Association, Seinoli Legal Center and the People’s Matrix held consultative dialogues with forty-one area chiefs and seventeen faith/spiritual and traditional healers of Semonkong, on the 3rd of May 2024. At this dialogue, representative of Lesotho Mounted Police and St. Leonard Health Centre were present.
One of the USAID Khutlo objectives focuses on enabling a better understanding of the magnitude, barriers, and facilitators for violence against LGBTQI+ people, particularly in engaging traditional leaders and healers, faith leaders, civil society organizations and government stakeholders.
According to African Technology Policy Studies, Africans have relied on traditional medicine since time immemorial, and traditional or spiritual healing still has a significant influence on Basotho norms and practices especially in rural settings. Semonkong is a small rural town located in the south-western part of the Maseru district of Lesotho, with about 100km from the town of Maseru.
“I had to stand firm and put my child first. This is not an ailment that can be cured, LGBTQI+ people need our support!”
Mrs G*, Traditional leader and spiritual healer from Semonkong
Participants acknowledged binary notion of sex and gender is not accurate reflection but for the longest time dialogue around this issue has been tabooed and been considered morally defiant.
During the dialogues, Mrs G*, a middle-aged traditional leader and spiritual healer, who travelled for almost 2 hours on horseback to the dialogue shared her personal experience of raising a child , who is now 21 years old, assigned male at birth but identifies as a woman.
Mrs G* related to how her husband took their child to the tradition initiation school “lobollo”, which is a rite of passage institution for male children, with the hope that he would finally have the “masculinity” developed the son he longed for. With the realization that the child’s gender identity remained the same, Mrs G* narrated that she took it upon herself to take a stand and explain to her husband that the lack of support would lead to their child either committing suicide or absconding from home.
She concluded by explaining that this was a tough journey that took an emotional toll on her family, in particular because of her role in the community as a spiritual and traditional leader.
This willingness of Mrs. G* to share such a personal story in front of 58 other traditional leaders was a display a positive start to unlearning negative cultural norms and stereotypes against the LGBTQI+ community in the rural areas of Lesotho. This incident once again showed the power of dialogue and creating a safe space how harmful norms and beliefs can be transformed. Overall, the traditional leaders acknowledged USAID Khutlo Activity for the intervention which “capacitated them to protect and promote the rights of all, thus building a more inclusive community”
*Quoted speakers purposefully anonymous as requested.
During a dialogue session on Gender based violence and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex, LGBTQI+ rights with Lesotho’s Parliament, a member of Parliament stated, “My own daughter is Lesbian. Whether our laws agree with it or not, this is a situation I must deal with in my own house. My fellow parliamentarians, we must accept this as a reality and address it….”
The MP’s statement, offered during a dialogue session facilitated by the USAID Lesotho Khutlo Activity, reflects the reality that LGBTQI+ communities face as a part of Lesotho’s rich social fabric. The Khutlo Activity is a unique program in Lesotho, advocating for the rights of LGBTQI+ people and addressing gender-based violence (GBV) that impacts LGBTQI+ people and cisgendered heterosexual women and girls, implemented in three districts: Leribe, Maseru, and Mokhotlong.
From the start, the Khutlo Activity has prioritized partnerships with traditional and religious leaders and government stakeholders. Traditional leaders, such as the Principal Chiefs, sit at the apex of Lesotho’s cultural custodians and serve as members of the Senate, one of Lesotho’s two houses of Parliament. They also hold jurisdiction over the Area Chiefs who have direct engagement with communities across the country. The Chiefs not only contribute to shaping the national legislative environment and lead traditional governance practices, but also are partners for change, including improving the awareness of LGBTQI+ people and their needs for GBV protection and services.
By building trust with government, traditional, and religious leaders through dialogue about the harmful effects of discrimination, stigma, and social norms that perpetuate GBV, the Khutlo Activity seeks to create a durable process for supporting the human rights of all people in Lesotho and reducing GBV, particularly for vulnerable populations.
During an introductory dialogue session by invitation at the Senate, the Khutlo Activity was introduced prompting an initial conversation about the key issues the Khutlo Activity seeks to address and winning buy-in from the Chiefs, which is essential for continuing dialogue sessions with community members across the country. In this initial meeting with the Senators and Members of Parliament from the Gender and Nutrition Committee as well as the Social Cluster, when discussing LGBTQI+ rights and GBV considerations, the Senators welcomed the notion of open and candid discussions on the social complexities that Khutlo Activity would have address when it went into the communities to implement the Activity.
Cascading from this initial discussion, the Khutlo Activity held further dialogue sessions with Parliament to deepen the discussion of LGBTQI+ rights and began organizing discussions with Area Chiefs in Khutlo’s target districts. During these discussions, participants shared personal stories of how LGBTQI+ issues have impacted their own families and the information that they are seeking as community leaders to understand the dynamics around LGBTQI+ individuals and families better.
“My own daughter – in – law decided to leave her marriage and live with another woman. I am not sure how to handle this as both her father-in-law as well as a Chief. Where can we get guidance to better understand such dynamics?” Local Chief in the Maseru District.
This acceptance for dialogues is a positive outcome for the Khutlo Activity in advancing addressing some of the drivers of GBV as well as addressing the barriers to greater LGBTQI+ acceptance at community level. But it also begins the process of building a foundation advanced by Lesotho’s leaders of spaces to hold open discussions about LGBTQI+ rights and GBV in contexts, and to leave no one in Lesotho behind.
*Quoted speakers purposefully anonymous as requested.
Sonke would like to express its gratitude for the funding support from Norad – the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation – in this edition’s Donor Corner. Norad is a professional body under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), working towards achieving the UN’s sustainability goals globally. The agency provided funding for Sonke’s work within the Women’s rights and Gender Equality budget chapter as a steadfast contributor to Sonke’s achievements, supporting Sonke for over ten years. Sonke’s partnership with Norad has been fundamental in the promotion and protection of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), which Sonke sees as essential for achieving gender equality, and a precondition for sustainable development and social justice. Initially, Norad supported Sonke’s 2013-2016 “Engaging men and boys in enhancing SRHR” project and continued as funder for the 2017-2021 “Rights, Action and Accountability” project.
Through this support Sonke has been able to capacitate MenEngage member organizations and emerging leaders to strengthen national, regional and global networks that can enhance men’s involvement in preventing gender based violence, improving SRHR, and advancing gender equality. This funding has also been instrumental in promoting and strengthening SRHR advocacy through the documentation and dissemination of creative advocacy strategies that aim to increase men’s support for SRHR, engage religious leaders and faith-based organisations to increase their proactive support for gender equality, SRHR and LGBTQI+ rights, and engage men as involved, non-violent fathers and caregivers. These efforts culminated in the “SRHR Advocacy Toolkit for Young People”, created to assist MEA Youth to design, develop and implement SRHR advocacy strategies and which recognised the vital power of youth in creating change.
Through this work Sonke and the MenEngage Alliance have garnered international attention and recognition for their interventions and expertise in working with men and boys to address gender, sexuality and violence issues, resulting in the recognition of Sonke and the MenEngage Alliance as active global advocacy stakeholders contributing to the development and implementation of policies and programmes that increase the scale, impact and sustainability of work with men and boys.
Sonke’s gains in advancing SRHR will be further strengthened through the continued support of Norad in the form of core support for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights efforts for the 2023-2027 period. This work is organised under the MEA regional SRHR strategy 2023 -2027, which aims to achieve universal access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights, through the pursuit of three outcome areas: Women, girls, adolescents, and young people claim rights to bodily autonomy and drive changes in social and gender norms, together with their families and communities; Health and education systems provide knowledge about and access to comprehensive SRHR services; Laws and policies ensuring SRHR promoted and adopted by authorities. These outcomes are being actualised by implementing countries Uganda, Ethiopia and Malawi where Sonke is providing support and guidance to youth on the development and implementation of creative evidence-based advocacy strategies that will strengthen their ability to conduct advocacy around laws and policies that promote gender equality and access to SRHR, including safe abortion and CSE. This is being done through country-level policy scans and monitoring of the policy environment, as well as through the development and dissemination of information booklets that provide youth with knowledge on SRHR, CSE, SGBV and safe abortion. Through these activities Sonke intends to contribute to the creation of an inclusive SRHR policy environment for young people, while increasing their agency to collectively speak up for their rights as they examine and question social norms, policies, and systems.
The long-standing partnership between Sonke and Norad is essential in promoting social-structural change and ensuring national stakeholders are held accountable for the implementation of inclusive SRHR policies, thereby enabling young people to make decisions concerning their bodies and helping to forge a world in which they can live free from violence and abuse.
The MenEngage Africa and Women International League for Peace and freedom training institute dubbed #MATI2024 On ‘Peace and Security,’ is taking place from 1st to 31st July virtually and from the 12 to 16th August onsite in Nairobi, Kenya. Participants of this training are members of MenEngage Africa and members of Women International League for Peace and Freedom. This training will have a total of 24 participants with fifty percent of the placement reserved for young people under the age of 32, and women.
In partnership with Gender Equality Studies and Training Program of the University of Iceland, the online session will require three hours per week of self-paced learning during which participants will be grounded on the concepts of Gender, Peace and Security, and submit assignments on a weekly basis, thereby fostering a participatory learning approach and self-reflection. The completion of the online course and its assignments is a prerequisite for participation in the in-person component of the course. In case a participant faces challenges in accessing the courses or submitting exercises, the organisers will discuss their case on an individual basis to decide on their in-person participation.
MenEngage Africa Training Institute will introduce participants to thematic around conflict, gender and peacebuilding, the international human rights frameworks to advance the Women Peace and Security agenda, the links between structural drivers of violence and militarised masculinities, the role of male allies in achieving feminist peace, and the opportunities for joint advocacy for feminist peace in Africa. MATI 2024 will pay attention to several regional commitments that offer leverage for change, helping participants to understand and use the AU’s Silencing the Gun Campaign, the AU’s Declaration on Positive Masculinities, UNSCR 1325 National Action Plans across the region, and the commitments many AU member states have made to implement these Human Rights Council Resolution 35-10.
Mati 2024 will be structured as follows:
Introduction to key concepts
The gendered dimensions of war, conflict and violence: personal connections and key concepts
The gendered dimensions of conflict and WPS & root causes
Root causes and structural drivers of conflict and violence and the peace and security situation in the region
WPS agenda and peace processes, including challenges to their implementation
Understanding and using international human rights frameworks to advance the WPS agenda
International and regional mechanisms and commitments for advancing the WPS agenda
Planning joint advocacy to advance the WPS agenda in Africa
Men, masculinities, peace
Conclusions and next steps
By the end of this training, participants will be expected to mainstream the lessons into their programming and community intervention activities, as well as become more intentional in working with men and boys as allies of feminist peace.
From April the 22nd to the 26th, the Generation Gender South Africa coalition, consisting of organizations such as Sonke Gender Justice, Action Aid South Africa, and Active! Change Drivers led various capacity strengthening workshops for youth in the KwaZulu Natal. The training’s objectives were to capacitate the civil society organizations and Generation Gender champions on social audits and equip them on how to make meaningful submissions and contributions on their municipal Integrated Development Plans with respect to addressing community and youth needs.
Over four days, the team conducted the social audit and Integrated Development Plan engagements. The first day revolved around strengthening the participants’ understanding of the social audit process, its purpose, and how it unravels. In the coming days, the training went on to engage its audience on how to be involved in the IDP process, how to make oral and written submissions to address needs and gaps within the framework and the significance of the youth’s participation in the IDP process. This training had evident connections to the actual social audit take-off that encompassed a two-day engagement with the local community where the participants conducted the audit. During the training, young people identified the issues affecting the lives of young people in all diversities.
Key highlights of the training included stakeholder mapping. This was aimed at skilling up young people and different actors in their communities to engage when they need to address issues of service delivery, ending gender-based violence, and keeping young people at the forefront of addressing these social issues. Young people are faced with many challenges such intimidation and dismissal when engaging community leaders, making it difficult to have their voices heard and their concerns addressed.
“It is without a doubt that equipping young people to meaningfully engage and hold duty bearers accountable to their promises on the fulfillment of the rights of the community is an ideal approach to ensuring sustainable change”, says Diana Macauley, RPN Co-Unit Manager at Sonke Gender Justice.
“These social audits and the IDP process have provided a platform for young people to meaningfully participate and represent driving change towards the prevention of gender-based violence and promoting social and gender justice. Witnessing this powerful process enlightened me to the passion that young people have, and how we need to support them to positively channel this, through the power of their voices towards social Justice”, Macauley concludes.
The three days of capacity strengthening workshop conducted by Generation Gender in Ntuzuma, KwaZulu natal was followed by a community dialogue in Inanda, KwaZulu Natal on the 24th of April 2024. The dialogue started in a true south African style, with a song of celebration, hope and solidarity. The atmosphere was electric as the melody was infectious, with all participants singing along and feeling the positive energy that filled the air.
Young people from Inanda and surrounding communities participated in the capacity-building program, and they were the driving force behind the community dialogue. They had gained valuable insights into gender issues and were eager to share their newfound knowledge with others in their community.
The primary objective of the community dialogue was to raise awareness on GBV and empower youth leaders to actively participate in combating it by equipping them with knowledge and skills. It also aimed to encourage a culture of accountability and responsibility among young people when it comes to addressing GBV, as well as encourage innovative solutions and youth-led initiatives to prevent and respond to gender-based violence, and create inclusive avenues for dialogue, education, and collaboration to address multiple types of discrimination and inequality.
Gender-based violence remains a pervasive social concern in South Africa, affecting individuals across age, gender, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Despite various interventions and efforts to combat the scourge of GBV in South Africa, its prevalence persists, necessitating innovative and sustainable approaches.
“Please bring your open mind and ideas to the table so that we can learn from each other,” said Rammolotsi Sothoane, Special Projects Manager at Activate! Change Drivers, as he warmly welcomed the youth to the dialogue and encouraged them to take up space to discuss issues that affect them and to brainstorm possible solutions.
South Africa has the highest unemployment rate among youth, and it was identified during the dialogue that unemployment is also a proponent of gender-based violence. Sayouth.mobi, which is a platform for young people free access to online work-seeker support resources was also present at the dialogue. The platform offers preparation for the world of work, leadership, volunteering, wellness and self-care support resources.
As the day ended, there was a sense of optimism and hope that the community dialogue had created a platform for change. The community dialogue was a testament to the power of collective action and the importance of creating spaces for dialogue and engagement on critical issues affecting communities. Moving forward, Generation Gender South Africa has planned a series of these engagements in Gauteng and Eastern Cape provinces.
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