Sonke joins march to protest Traditional Courts Bill
The Alliance for Rural Democracy held a night vigil on 4 June 2019 with community members from seven provinces in South Africa. These provinces were all gathered in anticipation for the march that would take place the morning of 5 June 2019. The morning of 5 June 2019, Sonke Gender Justice, CAT members and other […]
Asijiki Coalition for the Decriminalisation of Sex Work celebrates President Ramaphosa’s commitment to decriminalise sex work
On 5 June 2019, the Asijiki Coalition for the Decriminalisation of Sex Work, its members and allies will gather at Parliament to thank President Cyril Ramaphosa for his commitment to the decriminalisation of sex work and to the safeguarding sex worker human rights during the signing of the Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Declaration (March 2019). […]
Sonke and Lawyers for Human Rights call for greater prison oversight from Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services
On 13 December 2016, Sonke Gender Justice and Lawyers for Human Rights filed an application in the Western Cape High Court, citing the government and the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services (“JICS”) as respondents. The purpose of the case is to facilitate greater oversight over South African prisons in order to help safeguard inmates’ rights […]
Sonke joins ‘Stop the Bantustan Bills’ campaign to oppose Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Bill and Traditional Courts Bill
On 5 June 2019, Sonke Gender Justice (Sonke) as part of the Alliance for Rural Democracy, will march against the signing into law of the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Bill (TKLB) and the passing into law of the Traditional Courts Bill (TCB). Sonke and our civil society partners contend that these Bills are unconstitutional as […]
SECTION27 and Sonke deeply concerned with Alabama Abortion Act and US restrictions on sexual and reproductive health rights
Civil society organisations SECTION27 and Sonke Gender Justice (Sonke) are deeply concerned by the recent signing of the “Alabama Human Life Protection Act”, the most recent law in a wave of anti-abortion legislative measures made under the Trump administration. These measures are a direct attack against the advancement of sexual and reproductive rights of women […]
Sonke Gender Justice stands with Caster Semenya following Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling which contravenes her right to physical and bodily integrity
The recent Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling which will force athlete Caster Semenya to take medication to significantly reduce her testosterone levels in order to run internationally in events between 400m and one mile, will have far-reaching implications – not just for Caster but for other transgender and intersex people in sport. The […]
Rape and Consent
This article was originally written for the Times of Swaziland By Mkwakha Indvodza Welcome to our weekly column on the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act (2018). Each week we are going to unpack a clause of this new law, exploring what the law actually states and how it will affect our lives. After all, […]
‘No sex without fighting’ – tackling toxic masculinity in DR Congo
The Democratic Republic of Congo has some of highest rates of sexual violence in the world. But a new approach is trying to tackle this by encouraging men to confront and question their toxic masculinity.
CCID holds discussion on impacts of conflict on youth’s sexual and reproductive health and rights
On the 20th of April 2019, Community Centre for Integrated Development (CCID), the Secretariat for MenEngage Cameroon, held a discussion with young leaders on how conflicts impact the sexual and reproductive health and rights of young people, with HIV being the main focus. The discussion put on the spotlight how conflict puts individuals at higher […]
Activists preach gender transformation to faith-based leaders
The fight for gender equality continued yesterday when a team from Sonke Gender Justice, MenEngage Africa and Men & Boys For Gender Equality took on the faith-based leaders on a workshop to enhance the gender transformation movement.
Workplace wellness help curb suicides
Companies and Institutions should strengthen their workplace wellness programmes, as it will help in early identification of a problem for a timely response. Read the full article here.
New Steering Committee for MenEngage Africa selected
At the just-ended MenEngage Africa Alliance Annual General Meeting, a new Steering Committee was elected. The new Steering Committee members selected are 11 in total. They comprise of seven representatives from individual MenEngage Africa country networks, namely Uganda, Mali, Zambia, Botswana, Sierra Leone, DRC and Tanzania. The four remaining seats have been taken up by […]
Q+A with Dr Chris Ugwu, Co-Ordinator of MenEngage Nigeria
Nigeria is the latest and newest country to start a MenEngage network in Africa. Established by the Society for the Improvement of Rural People (SIRP Nigeria), the network joined the Alliance in July 2018. In our effort to introduce the network to our partners and friends, we asked Dr Chris Ugwu, Executive Director of SIRP […]
MenEngage Network decries senseless killings
At the height of Women’s Month celebrations, MenEngage Network Eswatini is disturbed by the recent gruesome murder of two young girls who were raped and thereafter murdered around Mbabane a week ago. Read the full article here.
Sonke calls for independent review process into Gugu Ncube’s claims of sexual harassment at UNISA
On Wednesday, 13 March 2019, Gugu Ncube was arrested after a peaceful protest she held outside the Union Buildings in Pretoria. Gugu wore only her panties and a piece of cloth, while holding a placard addressed to President Ramaphosa, which read: “I was raped, sexually harassed […] I spoke out, they lied that I had resigned. […]
Government’s lack of paternity leave inconceivable
Men and Boys for Gender Equality (MBGE) calls on government to develop policies for granting parental leave.
‘Men should talk about abuse’
Due to socialization, men continue to bottle issues and not come out in the open out about them. Read the full article here.
Reporting sensitively on gender and migration workshop, Johannesburg, Tuesday 19 March
Sonke Gender Justice invites you to attend a 1-day workshop designed for broadcast journalists, presenters, producers and programme managers. WHEN: Tuesday 19 March 2019 WHERE: Holiday Inn, Rosebank The Zone, 177 Oxford Road, Rosebank, Johannesburg, 2196, South Africa TIME: 08:30 for 09:00am – 16:30pm RSVP: kindly email karen@genderjustice.org.za by Thursday 14 March to confirm your attendance and let us […]
Sonke joins SANEF and other CSOs in condemning recent attacks on journalist Karima Brown
Sonke Gender Justice joins the South African National Editor’s Forum (SANEF) and other civil society organisations in condemning the recent threats made against talk show host, journalist and producer Karima Brown by supporters of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). On Wednesday 6 March 2019, Brown inadvertently sent a message intended for her producers to an […]
Applications for the UCLA Health & Human Rights Fellowship extended to 22 March 2019
Applications for the UCLA Health & Human Rights Fellowship (‘HHR Fellowship’) have been extended to 22 March 2019 . The HHR Fellowship, which was in launched in 2011 as a partnership between University of California, Los Angeles School of Law (‘UCLA Law’) and Sonke Gender Justice (‘Sonke’) provides specialised training at UCLA Law towards a […]
Sonke Gender Justice calls for survivor-centred support in Babes Wodumo assault case
Sonke Gender Justice expresses concern at responses to a video shared on social media on Monday 4 March 2019, showing what appears to be the singer Bongekile ‘Babes Wodumo’ Simelane being assaulted by her partner, Mandla ‘Mampintsha’ Maphumulo. This is not the first time allegations of abuse have arisen against Mampintsha, who currently has a […]
MenEngage Network – eSwatini joins CSOs and activists to observe the last 16 Days of Activism
The network hosted a number of activities to educate and sensitise targeted audiences about GBV and its consequences.
Government is not serious about ending gender-based violence
Statement from Civil Society Organisations working on Gender Based Violence.
Sonke joins other human rights advocates in expressing support for Caster Semenya in appeal against discriminatory IAAF ruling
Sonke Gender Justice joins the South African government, the Foundation for Human Rights, the Commission for Gender Equality, the Women’s Sport Foundation and the many other South African and international organisations and individuals who advocate for human rights, in expressing support for Caster Semenya and Athletics South Africa (ASA), as they appeal the International Association […]
