On 20 & 21 November 2018, Sonke Gender Justice (Sonke) in partnership with UN Women and MenEngage Africa (MEA) Alliance will host a two-day seminar that will bring together academics, NGO & CBO practitioners and faith leaders working in the field of gender equality from across the Africa region to reflect on promising practices on engaging religious leaders for gender justice in the continent. The venue for the seminar is Faircity Mapungubwe Hotel, Marshalltown, Johannesburg.
Driven by the theme “Faith & Feminism: One Pathway to Gender Equality?”, the seminar is being held against the background of the challenge of sexual and gender-based violence and the role of religious leaders and institutions in the wake of rising sexual abuse within faith institutions.
We are aware that the relationship between religion, faith and gender equality is often complex and ambiguous. With this seminar we intend to create a space to engage participants on contentious topics which, over centuries, religious institutions have often been accused of turning a blind eye to. Our concern here is to create a dialogue and an inter-sectional body of knowledge among participants that will attempt to probe and answer key questions regarding effective programming of gender-transformative interventions in the faith sector.
The objectives of the seminar are to:
- Facilitate in-depth exchanges, collaboration and networking among researchers, faith-based leaders, faith-based organisations (FBOs), non-governmental organisations (NGOs), community-based organisations (CBOs) and MenEngage Africa Alliance partners on the role of faith leaders and communities in achieving gender equality in Africa.
- Share current work that is being undertaken with the faith-based sector in the region.
- Gather information for a publication on promising practices on engaging faith leaders for gender justice in Africa.
We hope that through such interventions we will contribute to a process that will spur the faith communities to play a meaningful role that contributes to gender transformation.
For interviews and enquiries contact:
Bafana Khumalo: Co-Founder & Director of Strategic Partnerships, Sonke Gender Justice
Tel: +27 11 339 3589
Cell: 082 578 4479
email: bafana@genderjustice.org.za
Mphokuhle Mabhena: Senior Trainer, Sonke Gender Justice
Tel: +27 11 339 3589
Cell: 079 725 6325
Email: mpho@genderjustice.org.za
Dr Rafael Cazarin: Research Fellow, Sonke Gender Justice
Tel: +27 11 339 3589
Cell: 072 951 5152
Email: rafael@genderjustice.org.za
