Sonke’s quarterly donor’s corner
We are thrilled to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation to Sida, a cherished ally in our journey as Sonke gender Justice and and MenEngage Africa. Sida is Sweden’s government agency for development cooperation which strives to reduce poverty and oppression around the world. In cooperation with organisations, government agencies and the private sector, Sida […]
Sonke urges the South African government to deal with the scourge of violence
As the globe prepares to mark the 16 days of activism against Gender-based violence this month end, South Africa continues to grapple with the alarming rate of violence. In a recent incident, which went viral on social media, a Cape Peninsula University of Technology student was reportedly stabbed by a man believed to be her […]
The MenEngage Africa “Khopotso Bodibe” Media Award!
Background The MenEngage Africa “Khopotso Bodibe Media Award” was established to honour the remarkable life of Sonke’s former Communications and Media Specialist, the late Kgopotso Bodibe, who also supported MenEngage Africa members and recognized journalists in the region who work tirelessly in the field of human rights. Bodibe also worked for broadcast Radio Channel Africa, […]
The third MenEngage Africa symposium sparks a renewed commitment to the fight for gender equality in Africa!
The 3rd annual MEA symposium was held in August this year under the theme: “Accountability and Transformation through Gender-Equitable Evidence-Based Programming”. Jointly organised by MenEngage Africa, Sonke Gender Justice and Rwanda Men’s Resource Centre-RWAMREC, the hybrid event brought together about one hundred and fifty participants off and online Delegates at the symposium included MenEngage Africa […]
USAID/Khutlo activity launch and Stakeholder Consultative Meeting, Maseru Lesotho, August 2023
USAID / Khutlo consortium partners Pact and Sonke Gender Justice, under the Civil Society and Media-Strengthened Together and Advancing in New Directions (CSM- STAND) convened a three-day stakeholder consultation and official launch of the USAID/Khutlo activity project from the 28th to the 30th day of August 2023 in Maseru, Lesotho. The project aims to reduce […]
Sonke welcomes the landmark ruling by Johannesburg High Court on parental leave
The Johannesburg High Court has handed down a judgement that will now see South African fathers enjoy up to four months of parental leave and associated Unemployment Insurance Fund benefits. The matter was brought to court by a Polokwane couple, Werner and Ika van Wyk, with Sonke Gender Justice and the Commission for Gender Equality among other organisations appearing […]
Women Deliver 2023 reflections
Sonke Gender Justice and Men Engage Africa participated at the Women Deliver 2023 conference which took place in Kigali, Rwanda in July. The conference gathered over six thousand, three hundred women’s rights advocates from around the world, to engage on gender equity, sexual and reproductive health, and rights (SRHR) and women’s rights. The conference which […]
Sonke condemns the ongoing Israel and Palestine conflict
As the tension between Israel and Hamas rages on, at the centre of it is the plight of women and girls. Thousands of civilians have been killed since the beginning of the war, while many are left destitute. Sonke believes the United Nations must take a lead in resolving this conflict. ‘’This conflict can never be resolved […]
Alleged sexual abuse cases of SANDF members on peacekeeping mission in the DRC is appalling
Sonke Gender Justice is outraged to learn that the South African National Defence Force soldiers on the MONUSCO peacekeeping mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo are involved in a scandal of alleged sexual abuse cases. The eight implicated soldiers have been recalled to South Africa as investigations take place. This is not the first […]
GTA capacity strengthening for Diepsloot youth
Gender transformative approaches have become tools in striving towards achieving Gender equality and ending gender injustice for all in society. Strengthening the capacity of young people in engaging on GTA equips them with knowledge to meaningfully engage in addressing gender issues. Under the Going for Goal project currently being implemented in Diepsloot, Sonke hosted a […]
The Power of Options: Empowering Men and Boys in SRHR
By Jude Thaddues Njikem, SRHR Specialist at Sonke Gender Justice
Sonke calls for accountability and adequate compensation for Tandiswa Tokwe
A former domestic worker of South Africa’s ambassador to Japan, Smuts Ngonyama has come forward with allegations of abuse by the ambassador’s wife and former director of the Department of Social Development Nokwazi Ngonyama. The alleged abuse against Tandiswa Tokwe took place while she was working at the ambassador’s diplomatic residence in Tokyo and the […]
SASSA grants payment delays unacceptable
Sonke calls out the Social Development department for incompetence and delays in payment of social grants to the vulnerable. Thousands of South African Social Security Agency grant beneficiaries were left stranded at automated teller machines last week after not receiving their pay outs due to technical glitches caused by the Postbank. While the bank is responsible […]
The conviction of an Mpumalanga rapist pastor a step in the right direction
Sonke Gender Justice welcomes the stiff judgment of an Mpumalanga pastor, John Masilela who sexually abused teenage boys from his congregation for nearly eight years. The conviction of a 55 year sentence on four counts of rape and seven counts of sexual assault, serves as a testament that no one is above the law, and […]
Sonke to interrogate the linkages between climate change and Gender Based Violence
To wrap up Women’s month, Sonke Gender Justice will host a series of events to explore the gendered impact of climate change and its effects on gender based violence. Women’s month is an opportunity to gauge how far South Africa has come in addressing gender inequality and other forms of social injustices that continue to […]
Its time to recognize South African women sports teams’ contribution to social cohesion
07 August 2023 – Sonke Gender Justice applauds South African Women sports teams for exceptional performances respectively, in various tournaments. Although Banyana Banyana’s journey on the FIFA Women’s World Cup tournament ended after their loss to the Netherlands, the team made history last week when they became the first ever South African national football team […]
Sonke Safeguarding/SEAH capacity strengthening sessions in Malawi and Uganda
Sonke conducted Safeguarding/SEAH (Sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment) capacity strengthening sessions with each of the Power To Youth partners in Malawi from the 22-26 May 2023, and Uganda from 17-21 April 2023. Sonke visited each organisation and held separate sessions with staff from each of the individual organizations and then 2 collective sessions (one in […]
Strengthening male engagement in HIV prevention, treatment, and care: Successes in eSwatini and Kenya
In a concerted effort to address the challenges and seize the opportunities related to male engagement in HIV prevention, treatment, and care, a three-day country engagement workshop was recently held in eSwatini and Kenya. The workshops, facilitated by Sonke Gender Justice’s Jude Thaddues Njikem and Fredalene Booysen brought together stakeholders from civil society organizations, government […]
MenEngage Africa annual general meeting
MenEngage(MEA), Sonke Gender Justice, and MenEngage Rwanda hosted the 2023 MEA Annual General Meeting in Kigali, Rwanda, virtually from June 1st to 2nd, 2023, as part of MenEngage Africa’s (MEA) governance requirements, with MEA delegates from 24 countries in attendance. This year’s meeting was an elective AGM, with a new regional steering committee elected. Countries […]
GEN-G community engagements – 5 to 9 June 2023
Generation Gender Uganda successfully organized a series of impactful community engagements in the regions of Namutumba and Iganga. These community engagements led by the Center for Health, Human Rights, and Development (CEHURD), served as a platform to foster dialogue, raise awareness, and advocate for gender justice and young people’s rights. Through interactive discussions with stakeholders, […]
Gender transformative approach linking and learning between Uganda and Malawi
Since 2020, Implementing partners under the Power to Youth program in Uganda and Malawi have applied Gender Transformative Approach, GTA in their work. According to Rutgers, GTA has six principles including using human rights as a basis for all interventions, analyzing and critically addressing power dynamics, harmful gender norms and values, gender, and diversity, focusing […]
Working with traditional leaders to combat Gender Based Violence.
MenEngage Namibia (MEN) facilitated a training with traditional leaders of the Kabbe Sub-Traditional court in the Zambezi Region from 13 and April 14, 2023, to empower male traditional leaders to address gender-based violence and promote gender equality in the Zambezi region. The training aimed to foster gender equality and eradicate the menace of GBV from […]
All Roads lead to Rwanda for the 3rd MenEngage Africa Symposium
MenEngage Africa, in collaboration with Sonke Gender Justice, MenEngage Rwanda, and Rwanda Men’s Resource Centre-RWAMREC, are organising the third MenEngage Africa Symposium scheduled to take place in Kigali, Rwanda from the 14th to 16th of August 2023, under the theme; “Accountability and Transformation through Gender-Equitable Evidence-Based Programming”. This event will bring together MenEngage Africa members […]
Sonke Gender Justice welcomes the Castor Semenya European Court of Human Rights ruling
13 July 2023 – Sonke Gender Justice applauds the European Court of Human Rights for ruling in favour of double Olympic champion Caster Semenya in a verdict, that she was discriminated against by the World Athletics rules, that forced her to medically reduce her natural hormone levels to compete in major competitions. Semenya has a […]
