On 30 April, 2013 Sonke, represented by its Deputy Director Mr Desmond Lesejane, and the government of Finland, represented by the Ambassador of Finland to South Africa, Mr. Petri Salo, signed a cooperation agreement that will see our organization implementing a two-year advocacy project entitled: “Holding Key Government Departments and the Commission for Gender Equality Accountable to their Constitutional Mandates to Prevent Sexual and Gender-Based Violence and to Promote Gender Equality“.
The project aims to:
- Hold key government departments and independent oversight bodies accountable to their mandate of promoting gender equality and safeguarding human rights;
- Advocate for a South African Judiciary staffed with judges who consistently uphold the principles of gender equality as enshrined in the Constitution;
- Strengthen the capacity of mainstream and community media to engage and collaborate with civil society in advocacy efforts to hold key government departments and oversight bodies accountable in the delivery on their gender and human rights mandates; and
- Strengthen the capacity of civil society and communities to mobilise to end gender-based violence in the South Africa.
Sonke looks forward to joining forces with our civil society partners, and with the Finnish Embassy, to advance the cause of gender transformation and gender equality in the country!
