Sonke Gender Justice calls for a political settlement to end Ukraine and Russia conflict
Sonke Gender Justice calls for an end to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and encourages a peaceful settlement between the two countries. Russia launched its invasion on Ukraine on 24 February 2022 following the Russian President, Vladimir Putin announcement of “a special military operation” against Ukraine. The decision was based on the recognition of the […]
Sonke Gender Justice commends the removal of Albert Fritz, the Western Cape Community Safety MEC, from office following allegations of sexual assault
Sonke Gender Justice welcomes Premier Alan Winde’s decision to remove Albert Fritz from his position. This comes after an independent investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct, allegedly against young women recruited to work in his office, was completed. We learned earlier this year that Albert Fritz, the Western Cape Community Safety MEC at the time, […]
Sonke Gender Justice launches its #UnderTheBlankets campaign:refugees’ and migrants’ access to sexual health in South Africa
In the run up to Valentine’s Day next week, Sonke Gender Justice is launching a new campaign on migrants’ and refugees’ rights to access sexual and reproductive health services in South Africa. Our #UnderTheBlankets campaign encourages anyone – South African or not – to visit a webpage and read about how they can access government sexual and reproductive health services […]
MenEngage Nigeria holds AGM in Abuja
ABUJA – Nigeria’s capital Abuja will host the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of members of MenEngage Nigeria between Tuesday February 1st and Wednesday February 2nd, a member of the Global MenEngage Alliance. The two-day event which will also incorporate the AGM of the Youth Wing of MenEngage Nigeria, has as its theme: Prevention of Gender-Based […]
Sonke calls for the Western Cape Democratic Alliance (DA) to expedite Albert Fritz’ disciplinary process
Sonke Gender Justice (Sonke) is outraged by the latest allegations that another powerful man and politician is involved in a sexual harassment scandal. Albert Fritz, the Western Cape Community Safety MEC at the time, resigned after employees leveled serious allegations of sexual assault against him. Sexual assault stems from harmful power dynamics, gender stereotypes, norms, and attitudes that […]
HIV Counselling and Testing Campaign (HTS)
In September and October, the RHR and Key Population teams carried out HIV Counselling and Testing Campaign (HTS) activities and health screenings at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT). As part of the HTS campaign, Sonke also provided confidential health screening (including BP testing, sugar diabetes testing, TB screening, STI screening, and pregnancy testing). […]
Session on Gender Based Violence with Goodwood Prison’s male staff
Sonke facilitated a GBV session with approximately 70 male Goodwood Prison staffers on October 27, 2021 at their staff outing in Paarl. The focus of the session was on value clarification. The session was very interactive, and the entire team participated. A follow-up meeting was requested with both male and female staff at Goodwood Prison.
Sonke Gender Justice and MenEngage Africa to participate in the 21st Edition of the International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA)
Sonke Gender Justice, in collaboration with MenEngage Africa and Southern Africa AIDS Dissemination Service (SAfAIDS), will host 2 (two) high-level side events at the 21st Edition of the International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA). This crossbreed (in-person and virtual). The high-level side events will take place on December 07 and […]
MenEngage Africa observes 16 Days of Activism
The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that begins on November 25th, International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and ends on December 10th, Human Rights Day. This is an opportunity for us all to reaffirm our commitment to ending gender-based violence and hold one another accountable. […]
Virtual launch of State of South Africa’s Fathers report 2021
On November 19, 2021, Sonke Gender Justice, the Human Science Research Council (HSRC), and Stellenbosch University hosted a virtual launch of State of South Africa’s Fathers report 2021.
Youth Capacity Building Workshop and Conference on Gender Norms and FGM Advocacy
Our Youth gathered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to participate in a five-day capacity building workshop on Gender Norm and Female genital mutilation (FGM) Advocacy. The workshop was held from 27th September – 01 October 2021. The workshop’s aim is important to strengthen young people’s capacity on GTA to enable them to challenge harmful social and discriminatory […]
Gender Transformation Training for Traditional and Religious Leaders
Under the Global Spotlight Initiative, MenEngage Africa engaged Religious and Traditional Leaders for a Gender Transformation Training in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania in eliminating harmful practices such as FGM and child marriages, tackling toxic masculinity and promoting gender equality from 13th- 17th September 2021. We were honoured to be joined by Chief Theresa Kachindamoto, a […]
Annual General Meeting for MenEngage Youth
The Annual General Meeting for MenEngage Youth was held in Tanzanzia from the 7-8th of September in Tanzania and hosted all representatives from the MenEngage Youth countries. The youth gave updates on their country plans and key highlights and regional updates from the MenEngage Global were presented.
We mourn the loss of our colleague Khopotso Bodibe
It is with much sadness that Sonke communicates the loss of Khopotso Bodibe who passed away on Tuesday, July 27, 2021. Khopotso joined Sonke as a Communications Associate in Sonke’s Communications and Strategic Information Unit in 2015. In 2018, he was promoted to RPU – Media & Communications Specialist. Khopotso spent 10 years as a […]
The slow progress in the ratification and implementation of the Maputo Protocol has had negative consequences on woman and girls
Since its adoption in 2003, the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, known as the Maputo Protocol, has contributed in shifting the trajectory on the promotion and protection of woman’s rights in Africa. Despite its progressive protections, to date, only 42 countries have signed […]
Government needs to address the structural and socio-economic issues underlying the unrest and make provisions for the implementation of the basic income grant as a matter of urgency
Sonke Gender Justice condemns the latest escalation of violence and indiscriminate looting happening in various parts of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. According to reports, as of 13 July 2021 the number of fatalities had risen to 72 and police have made 1234 arrests. The myriad of under lying causes reflect deep socio-economic frustrations that have not […]
The eSwatini government’s violent response to peaceful pro-democracy protests poses a threat to the fundamental right to life and infringes on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly enshrined in Article 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
We are deeply concerned by the senseless police brutality and state-sanctioned violence in eSwatini. The eSwatini government’s violent response to peaceful pro-democracy protests poses a threat to the fundamental right to life and infringes on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly enshrined in Article 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights […]
Pregs Govender joins Sonke as a senior fellow!
We are excited to formally announce the Sonke Feminist Leadership Fellowship. Pregs Govender joins Sonke as a senior fellow from February 2021 for a 2-year period. The aim of the fellowship is to establish an Institute for Transformative Feminist Leadership (ITFL). The Institute will create a space for feminists to focus on transformative leadership and […]
Sonke Gender Justice calls on the South African government to unequivocally stand with the people of Palestine and halt all diplomatic ties with Israel
The world is once again witnessing another cycle of violence and destruction of Palestine and its people at the hands of the racist Israeli state and for this reason, Sonke Gender Justice (Sonke) is calling on the South African government to unequivocally stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine and halt all diplomatic ties […]
The Politics of Care session 4: When Men Receive Care
This session concludes the Politics of Care series. Each session examines men’s engagement in different phases of a feminist ethic of care. This session will focus on men receiving care. We will share findings from related research and discuss the political positioning of responses to men’s vulnerabilities. Details Time: 3:00pm to 4:30pm Central Africa Time. […]
LHR and Sonke Gender Justice to Challenge Failure to Re-Open Cape Town Refugee Reception Office
On 12 May 2021, the Western Cape High Court will hear the matter of Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town (“Scalabrini”) v Department of Home Affairs (“DHA”) with regard to the DHA’s consistent failure to comply with court orders to reopen the Cape Town Refugee Reception Office (“CTRRO”). Scalabrini seeks to compel the re-opening of the […]
MenCare Advocacy, Media and Campaigning Webinar
Hello! Sonke Gender Justice and Rutgers invite you to a MenCare Advocacy, Media and Campaigning Webinar: With 3 practical cases and a toolkit on how to do it. Date: Thursday, 11 March 2021 Time: 3pm to 4:30pm CAT The webinar is part of the ongoing MenEngage Ubuntu Symposium and will be moderated by Mphokuhle Mabhena–Lunga. Panellists will include […]
Politics of Care Session 3 at the Ubuntu Symposium
The Politics of Care seminar series continues on Thursday 25 February as part of the MenEngage Global Ubuntu Symposium (register here). The seminar series unpacks four phases of an ethic of care, and specifically how men can contribute to the cultivation of a feminist ethic of care. The first session addressed men ‘caring about’ and how men’s ignorance of […]
Men’s involvement & tough action by African leaders needed to stop FGM
Saturday marks the International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) under the theme “No Time for Global Inaction, Unite, Fund, and Act to End Female Genital Mutilation”. FGM is a procedure that partially or totally removes a female’s external genitalia for non-medical reasons, causing irreparable and irreversible harm, as well as life-long […]
