In many parts of the world, particularly in Africa, the majority of young people feel there is a lack of meaningful engagement with the youth to address the world’s challenges. This was the view shared by young people under the MenEngage Africa youth programme on International Youth Day, 12 August 2020. But far from being apathetic and hopeless, they believe the youth have an opportunity to take action themselves and play a meaningful role to ensure that they add their voices towards making sustainable change and development take place. They share their thoughts in the multi-media package we share below.

Zimbabwe has been in the news for blatant police and military brutality and impunity meted against citizens, activists and journalists. MenEngage Africa Alliance joined other activists and civil society organisations to call on the authorities in Zimbabwe to desist from silencing and clamping down on democracy and human rights defenders.

“I have noticed male gender activists working so hard engaging community members through dialogues, workshops or seminars, but very seldom do you find them discussing their own personal challenges. Even if one of the male gender activists cries out for help we hardly listen and help the person find solutions. Do men challenge themselves to take care of their health and support each other if one of them is drowning? The answer is simply, No! As men and boys we need to take care of our own health very seriously,” writes Vusi Cebekhulu, Social and Structural Drivers (SSD) Coordinator for MenEngage Africa.

In July, MenEngage Togo hosted a workshop on the “National Validation of the Qualitative Study on Masculinity, Femininity and Gender Relations in Togo”. The study examined concepts of masculinity and femininity, how the definitions of these concepts are linked to gender-based violence (GBV) and how they affect gender equity and sexual health and reproductive health rights.

After spending time, energy and resources fighting to get justice in the case of the man who beat her and left her blind in one eye, Josina Machel, daughter of Samora and Graca Machel, the first president and First Lady of Mozambique, was dealt a further blow when the country’s Higher Appeal Court overturned the man’s conviction. MenEngage Africa condemned the ruling.

Within just three months of the Covid-19 lockdown – from March to July – Nigeria experienced a dramatic upsurge in rape cases nationwide, with 3 600 cases reported.