Short course announcement: “The Role of Men and Boys in Achieving Gender Equality”
Sonke Gender Justice, the Gender Unit at the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria and the Centre for the Study of AIDS, University of Pretoria are offering the “The Role of Men and Boys in Achieving Gender Equality” short human rights course to increase the capacity of organisations and individuals – women and men […]
Sonke’s Dean Peacock and Tim Shand speak in Stockholm at Sida HQ
Sonke Director Dean Peacock and International Programmes Coordinator Tim Shand spoke at the Swedish International Development Agency Headquarters about Sonke’s work with men for gender equality and women’s empowerment. » Watch the video
Sonke Director Dean Peacock interviewed about death sentence as ineffective deterrent for rape
Four Indian men were sentenced to death by a New Delhi court last Friday for the gruesome gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old woman in December. Sonke’s Dean Peacock was interviewed about the death sentence as a penalty for rape, saying that while it is understandable in cases like this, it is not the […]
Invitation to submit proposals for community radio dramas on sexual violence prevention and information about Thuthuzela care centres
Sonke is implementing a project aimed at preventing sexual violence and improving access to services for victims, in particular to the Thuthuzela Care Centres, through a community-based intervention that includes community dialogues as well as capacity-building of community radio stations to host shows to discuss the topic and provide information on the range of services […]
Support Global Female Condom Day
On September 16th 2013, the world’s second Global Female Condom Day will take place. Seven years after the introduction of the second-generation female condom, the FC2 female condom, this women-initiated dual-protection tool is becoming increasingly popular. Download the poster for more information.
Invitation: Being a Man in South Africa
The Wits University Department of English and the Library and Information Centre invite you to a discussion on the challenges facing men in South Africa, today. Click the invitation below to view a full-size version.
Detention Justice Forum host panel on preventing torture at the ISS Conference on Criminal Justice
The Detention Justice Forum, which Sonke co-coordinates, hosted a panel on “Preventing Torture and Abuse through Oversight” at the 4th Annual ISS Conference on Criminal Justice on the 21st August 2013. As emphasized by the U.N. Special Rapporteur on the Prevention of Torture, the most effective mechanism to prevent torture and ill-treatment is through the […]
Filmmakers Against Women Abuse features Sonke-collaborated film
Sonke collaborated in the making of the short film, Unlearning Violence. The film is now on the Documentary Filmmakers’ Association’s website alongside the other films presented as part of their Filmmakers Against Women Abuse campaign. Check out the films: http://www.docfilmsa.com/fawa-filmmakers-against-women-abuse/
Sonke’s Work featured as example of best practice for armed violence prevention
Sonke is mentioned as example of best practice for armed violence prevention in the prestigious Small Arms Survey 2013 Yearbook, a project of the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva. Download the chapter
Complaint against Magistrate Herman Badenhorst for comments on rape in prison
Sonke has a filed a complaint against Magistrate Herman Badenhorst to the Gauteng Regional Court President Modibede Djaje. Magistrate Badenhorst is reported to have told the accused, “you can always rape other inmates if you are so inclined”. » Download the press release
Sonke’s Xholani Tshandu speaks at event to remember murdered woman miner Pinky Mosiane
A campaign for justice has been launched for a female mine worker who was allegedly raped and murdered at Anglo Platinum mine early in 2012. Twenty organisations including trade unions and NGOs held a gathering in Khayelitsha on the Cape Flats on Wednesday 14 August to remember Pinky Mosiane. Sonke’s Xolani Tshandu explains in this SABC2 […]
Sonke’s Bafana Khumalo speaks on SAFM about “Not in my name” march against men’s violence
The Not in My Name Rally aims to bring all men into the fight against the scourge of gender-based violence in its different forms and shapes. Sonke’s Bafana Khumalo elaborates in this SAFM radio clip. Download the clip
Where are we in understanding men’s relationship to violence?
Agenda & the Wits Institute for Social and Economic Research invite you to a seminar, “Where are we in understanding men’s relationship to violence?” It will be held on Thursday 22 August at Wits University. Download the invitation
Submission to the Civilian Secretariat for Police on the Green Paper on Policing
A group of gender, women’s rights and children’s rights civil society organisations working in the area of gender based violence took the decision to make this submission in response to the Civilian Secretariat of Police’s Green Paper on Policing. This decision was made in light of the fact that part of the poor implementation of […]
Systemic reforms to address sexual abuse of inmates successfully adopted
Sexual violence and HIV are interlinked and common phenomena in South Africa’s prisons. It is a conservative estimate that 26.7% inmates are HIV positive, well above the national average of 10%. Rape in prison is a common experience – half of all inmates surveyed by the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services confirmed that sexual abuse […]
Sonke press statement on Vavi rape complaint
Sonke notes with concern media reports over the weekend, in which the Secretary General of the South African Congress of Trade Unions (COSATU) has been accused of rape by an employee of the organisation. We urge the union to redact her name from the organisation’s website. Download the full press statement
Prisoner rape is illegal – Magistrate Badenhorst must be held accountable
Sonke Gender Justice and Just Detention International condemn Magistrate Herman Badenhorst’s statement: “In prison, you can rape prisoners if you feel like it – at least you won’t be around little children.” According to an IOL news report on Monday 15 July, the magistrate uttered these words while sentencing Neo Molaudzi for raping and robbing […]
CGE postpones its Judicial Transformation Inquiry
The long-awaited inquiry into the slow pace of gender transformation in the Judiciary to be convened by the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) in Pretoria on 24 and 25 July 2013, has been postponed. The inquiry follows a complaint lodged with the CGE by the Democratic Governance and Rights Unit of UCT (DGRU) and Sonke […]
Statistics South Africa publishes Gender Dynamics Report
In early July, Statistics South Africa released a report on gender dynamics in South Africa. The report contains comprehensive sections on health and work as well as more limited sections on education, literacy, living conditions and other data. Unfortunately, the report does not contain any data or analysis on gender based violence. Statistics SA notes […]
Sonke lauds former Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka on her appointment as Head of UNWOMEN
Sonke Gender Justice extends its congratulations to Former South African Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka on her appointment as Executive Director of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UNWOMEN). We commend UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon for finding a worthy successor to former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet. Download the Press […]
CGE to take action on gender in the judiciary
A Commission of Inquiry will be held in Pretoria on 24th and 25th July in order to address the paucity of women in the judiciary. The Inquiry comes as the result of a complaint lodged by the Democratic Governance and Rights Unit (DGRU) of UCT and Sonke Gender Justice in October 2012 to the Commission […]
Evaluation of South Africa’s Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services
Sonke is happy to announce the completion of a new publication: Evaluation of South Africa’s Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services: Assessing its independence, effectiveness and community engagement. The report is part of our ongoing advocacy for a stronger, independent Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services (JICS). The report provides an overview of JICS’ history, mandate, and […]
Sonke applauds the Commission for Gender Equality’s stance for the decriminalisation of sex work in SA
Sonke recently submitted a letter with the Commission for Gender Equality applauding their position in favour of the decriminalisation of sex work in South Africa. In addition, Sonke jointly submitted a letter of support with several key gender and women’s rights organisations and individuals working in the area of gender equality and women’s rights. Sonke’s […]
Sonke launches the MenEngage Africa Policy Report Series
Sonke has launched the MenEngage Africa Policy Report series, highlighting work with men and boys towards an improved gender-based violence (GBV) policy environment in Africa. GBV remains a massive problem across Africa, compromising the lives of women and children, their human rights and dignity, and contributing to alarmingly high levels of HIV infection resulting in devastating […]
