Articles
A Senior Trainer for Sonke’s Refugee Health and Rights Portfolio, Micheline Minani Muzaneza reveals the harrowing moment she decided to dedicate her life to pursuing social justice.
Youth activist, Josephine Mukwendi, shares her experiences of forced and early marriage and its impact on young women and girls.
The Centre for Social Development in Africa (CSDA) and Sonke Gender Justice set out to speak to fathers who are not living with their children, have little contact with them and/or seldom provide them with money. The research project did not seek to pr …
World Refugee Day is an important time to remember the challenges that refugees in South Africa face. But it is also a time to reflect on the work being done to facilitate social cohesion, creating opportunities for refugees and South Africans to share, laugh, listen – and ultimately, to live together.
In the wake of the wave of xenophobic violence NGO Sonke Gender Justice tells the story of Lionnel Drench who fled the conflict in Congo Brazzaville.
By William Nessen Can’t Just Fold Your Arms is an inspiring story of moral commitment, a striking portrait of the country today, and a necessary warts-and-all look at the reality of ‘engaging’ men for women’s rights and gender transformation. The film …
A young girl is forced to undergo FGM before she’s married to an older man, another succumbs to peer pressure and bleeds for days after the brutal ritual.
Patrick Godana writes on the terrible toll of silicosis on miners’ families.
The most important people in mining will not be among the movers and shakers at the high-profile event this week.
Earlier this year, the Commission for Gender Equality (“CGE”) came out in support of the decriminalization of sex work. Sonke staff was thrilled with this development because the CGE is an important institution. Their voice amplifies those of many othe …
If there is one important lesson that we have learned from our campaigns over the years, it is that NOT speaking up against GBV is not an option.
Wessel van den Berg, Sonke’s Child Rights and Positive Parenting portfolio manager, debunks some pervasive myths about corporal punishment.
Barriers to career advancement, pay disparities, and difficulties balancing work and family responsibilities, are just some of the challenges women are grappling with today. While South Africa is progressive in advancing women, gender inequality persis …
On a new kind of fatherhood that has gender equality and a good relationship between the parents as cornerstones.
On September 5, the Western Cape High Court ruled that South Africa’s national prison oversight body, the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services (JICS) lacked the requisite independence to adequately protect prisoners’ rights. Many people ques …
We urgently need to employ the multiple strategies of evidence, action and accountability, writes Bafana Khumalo.
I don’t want to be protected by men; I want to live in a world where I don’t need to be protected by anyone. This statement, made by a women’s rights activist, sums up much of the problem with the current increased momentum of work with men to reduce g …
Tapiwa Manyati, one of Sonke’s young activists, recently visited London to participate in the Active Participation conference hosted by Amnesty International where he shared his experiences about using digital stories as a mechanism for including the a …
Over the course of two weeks in September and October, WILPF co-convened the 2021 MenEngage Africa Training Institute (MATI) in partnership with MenEngage Africa, Sonke Gender Justice, and the Institute for Peace and Security Studies at Addis Ababa Uni …
Every child has a right to education, best attainable standards of health, and protection from abuse, torture and labour which interfere with the child’s physical, mental, spiritual, moral, or social development. However, Covid-19 has had an adverse ef …
While it is important to acknowledge the very real and complex issues around the purchase and consumption of liquor, it is crucial to note the significant harms that are related to alcohol abuse.
It’s a month-and-a-half into 2022 in South Africa, and the old aphorism “the definition of madness is doing the same thing the same way while expecting different results” comes to mind. The scourge of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) is ongoin …
Getting parents more involved in childcare is good for a child’s health and prospects in life. It’s also good for women. South Africa needs to get with the programme writes Wessel van den Bergh.
In Igbo land, FGM is usually carried out to coincide with the child’s naming ceremony, which is a festive event with gifts and refreshments. In Igbo culture, the naming ceremony comes up almost immediately after the birth of the child. It is normally d …
Discussing the potential dangers of American and South African societies’ deeply ingrained ideas of masculinity.
I am writing to you now that my fingers can type again after feeling numb with disbelief at the South African Law Reform Commission’s recommendations released just before the weekend.
How do anti-foreign sentiments affect female migrants’ and refugees’ perceptions of safety? Initial findings of a study that set out to answer this question found that female migrants and refugees in Cape Town feel unsafe not only because of pervasive …
It is time to respect women’s agency about their career growth and their need to self actualise, and create an enabling environment to do so.
The National Strategic Plan is a little too late for Uyinene, Nosicelo, the little girl in Soshanguve, the thousands of teenagers who find themselves pregnant and the many thousands of other womxn and girls who continue to face violence and discrimination on a daily basis without access to appropriate remedies, and without protection and equal benefit of the law, writes Sonke Gender Justice’s Bafana Khumalo and Rumbie Elizabeth Chidoori.
Commitments toward gender equality and women’s rights need to move from rhetoric to action.
I had the privilege to attend the MenEngage Africa Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights Learning and Exchange symposium in Nairobi, Kenya in August this year. I deem it a privilege, as it continues to be rare for grassroots activists to afford access …
Sonke conducts research in the Eastern Cape on how caring for sick spouses can be detrimental to women’s development.
A global gag order on abortion information has far-reaching effects on women’s health and rights, writes Marlise Ritchter.
The deadline for public comments on the draft amendment bill to decriminalise sex work in South Africa is 31 January. Looming decriminalisation has sparked a wide range of responses from members of the public, many of which are founded on long-standing myths and misconceptions about the nature of sex work.
Testimony to the female condom as a tool of both female empowerment and sexual stimulation.
The importance of Hendri Terblanche’s petition to provide new fathers with ten days of paid paternity leave.
Mbuyiselo Botha writes in the Sowetan on the worrying proliferation of churches that hide behind religion to exploit the poor.
Policy musings from Sonke Gender Justice.
Limited, incomplete or incorrect knowledge and information related to sex, sexuality and sexual and reproductive health and rights among the youth contribute to gender-based violence, discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, HIV, teenage preg …
“Women are being bullied by their husbands. Women are being raped, even when they are going to work. I think, the government must [invest in visible policing] and educate people about [these things]. They must arrest people who are [raping women],” sai …
A high court has ruled that compensation to women who have to take care of sick miners could ease the gendered harms imposed by the industry.
The Equality Court has ruled that a woman transgender inmate may express her gender identity while incarcerated in an all-male prison. The court ruled, on 23 September, that the inmate is allowed to wear her hair long; wear make-up; wear female clothin …
Amid plans to help fathers be more involved in parenting, a photo exhibition helps drive the message home.
Politicians are once again trying to use capital punishment to get votes.
Sonke’s Siphokhazi Dyani attends a march demanding action from the Delft police for the brutal murder in August of 38 year-old Nomenesi Klawushe. She wonders: will justice be served for the mother of three and other women like her?
Remarks by UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, for the inaugural Annual Sonke Lecture at Johannesburg.
An insider’s feminist view on Sonke Gender Justice – Can a “men’s organisation” become an inclusive organisation implementing the strategy of engaging men and boys for gender equality?
Festus Kisa describes his experiences as an LGBTI activist attending the 2016 MenEngage Africa Training Initiative.
South Africa marks Women’s month in August, a campaign whose objective is to recognise and celebrate contributions of women towards societal development and social change. This year the commemoration is under the theme “Celebrating 30 Years of Fre …
Sonke’s Demelza Bush explores her own gender journey and unpacks the danger of societal constructions and the difficulties they create.
Important points regarding how the introduction of female condoms needs to be met with widespread attitude changes from men.
The figures of young boys dying at initiation schools are shocking. The death toll, as at July 11, was 42, in just three weeks. According to reports, this is nearly double last year’s figure of 26. Photo credit: The Guardian South Africa is now 18 year …
It is the burning question that behaviour change advocates must face: who will ensure that the work we do is maintained and strengthened after the workshops, talks and events are over? Sonke’s answer to this question is the Community Action Teams, or C …
The local government elections have come and gone. Many promises, pledges and commitments were made. However, very few political parties made clear how they plan to address two major problems in South Africa: gender-based violence (GBV) and HIV and AID …
Global, women-led movements are pushing back and showing that inequality, sexual abuse, harassment and GBV will no longer be tolerated in our society.
Access to water, or lack thereof, tends to disproportionately affects women. So why has this narrative been missing from discussions around the current water crisis?
Widows and children stand to inherit damage claims from the mining industry, but their decision to appeal doesn’t bode well.
Re-analysing hate speech as a product of socialisation.
Many young women in SA cannot afford to buy sanitary pads and their schooling suffers as a result. Project Dignity, with the help of Sonke Gender Justice, is offering an alternative that will keep them comfortable, safe – and in school.
Long-term impact on gender relations cannot be made without improving a whole range of sexual and reproductive health services.
Dean Peacock, Sonke’s executive director, writes in the Mail & Guardian on the importance of ending needless AIDS-related deaths.
As part of Sonke’s work on holding local government accountable, a group of Community Action Team (CAT) members visited Parliament for the first time. On the day the Traditional Courts Bill (TCB) was considered for a vote by the National Assembly on 12 …
The Department of Home Affairs has missed its court-ordered deadline to re-open the Cape Town Refugee Reception Office, but civil society has vowed to ensure that the fight to reopen the centre will continue.
The world is going through a period of increasing conservatism. There is a tendency to turn away from universal human rights, towards more dogmatic beliefs. The impact of this shift has disproportionate consequences for women, with limitations to their …
Five cases from Indonesia, Pakistan, Rwanda, Lebanon and Uganda, that illustrate the effectiveness of engaging men and boys.
PEPFAR recipients document how the pledge limits sex workers’ access to health care and increases their vulnerability.
Relatives of genocide victims attend a commemoration ceremony at Gisozi Genocide Memorial Centre in Kigali, Rwanda.
Patrick Wisani’s sentencing to 20 years in prison is little consolation for the loss of the life of a young woman – and the protracted case has only served to highlight the failures of a system in protecting women against GBV in South Africa.
My name is Sikhangele Mabulu. I was born in Centane at Theko Kona Village in Eastern Cape. I now live in Kraaifontein in Cape Town. I was begotten by Mxolisi Mabulu and Nokhusile Mabulu. My father died in 2009, he was begotten by Jongile Mabulu and No …
Komanyane attended the 61st session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, the global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women.
Addressing structural and institutional inequalities is crucial in ensuring that no African child is left behind in enjoying their human rights and realising their full potential.
A discussion of the government’s apathy towards gender-based violence in the face of staggering economic statistics.
Remarks prepared by Dean Peacock, Co-Executive Director, Sonke Gender Justice, advisory board member, Global Coalition on Women and AIDS. I’d like to thank the organisers of this event for the invitation. It’s an honour to speak on this important panel …
Counselling work done by MenCare to shift men’s attitudes away from harmful gendered stereotypes towards active participation in parenting.
The distribution of police resources in poor versus rich areas is still a bitter aftermath of apartheid’s legacy and must be rectified if we are going to see a reduction in gender-based violence and move towards safer communities.
Sexual violence is one of the most pressing issues plaguing South African prisons. In a 2007 survey by the Judicial Inspectorate of Correctional Services, about half of all inmates admitted that sexual abuse occurs either “sometimes,” “often” or “very …
Members from various faiths gathered together at Sonke’s workshop to discuss how religion can contribute to gender-based violence.
Czerina Patel points out discrepancies in the media coverage of two cases of intimate femicide.
We should address sexual harassment in all industries head on, and in so doing become active agents of change.
On December 10, 2013, Sandiswa Mhlawuli, a 27-year-old unmarried mother of two, was murdered. Several eye-witnesses say her ex-boyfriend Nkosinam Xabadiya (then 29-years-old) pulled her out of a stationary commuter van and stabbed her multiple times. M …
It is vital the court of appeal upholds a ruling that makes South Africa’s gold mining industry accountable to women whose husbands died from silicosis.
Sonke’s Policy and Development Advocacy Specialist discusses the dangers of inconsistently treating HIV positive inmates.
Civil society organisations march to Parliament to demand government to draft and implement a robust plan on dealing with GBV.
The South African MenCare campaign was launched in early August at the Nike Football for Hope Centre in Soweto. MenCare – A Global Fatherhood Campaign – is coordinated by Instituto Promundo, based in Rio de Janeiro and Washington DC, Sonke and the MenE …
The Covid-19 coronavirus has caused a lot of concern and panic globally as the number of infections continue to rise. Social distancing have become the buzzwords, with citizens across the world being advised to stay away from social gatherings and publ …
On Friday, 13 May 2011, the Civil Society Prison Reform Initiative (CSPRI), the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR) and the Sonke Gender Justice co-sponsored a publication launch and roundtable discussion on the Prevention and Er …
In 1988, a teacher, Kevin Jennings, at a private school in Massachusetts, started a group to support Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) students and to connect supporters of inclusivity and broad sexual rights, whether straight, g …
Despite the submission of formal complaints from civil society, Parliament remains mute on calls for Mduduzi Manana to be dismissed.
Men’s Association for Gender Equality (MAGE) commenced their introductory district entry meetings to engage community actors, stakeholders, government personnel and institutions.
Supreme Court of Appeal grants mining houses leave to appeal all aspects of the landmark judgement.
What will it take to get dads more involved in childcare asks Wessel van den Berg on Fathers Day – as he draws hope from a landmark bill in the parliamentary pipeline.
This is an abridged transcript of Mamphela Ramphele’s speech given at UCT in March 2012. I was born and bred in the rural areas; I come from Limpopo province. I was a political activist in the 1970s working in the Eastern Cape, and things are so bad th …
It is time to get a clearer picture of how fatherhood actually occurs in the daily lives of children in SA and acknowledge what is working.
Young people in Malawi have highlighted that a good example of meaningful and inclusive youth participation is recognising the contributions of young people, providing them leadership roles, and giving them equal access to opportunities so they can bec …
Dr Gary Barker’s Helen Joseph Memorial Lecture, University of Johannesburg – 10 August “In the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC, there is a collection of manuscripts and folios written by and for midwives in 17th Century Elizabethan England …
As a female gender advocate, I have spent years addressing the challenges women face in achieving equality. Typically, the focus has been on empowering women and advocating for policy changes that dismantle patriarchal systems. However, my recent exper …
The month of June has come and gone – and I am left with some reflections. June is a month specially dedicated to educating men about the health risks they may face, how to prevent them, what symptoms to look out for, and where to get medical assistanc …
Dr Aaron Motsoaledi draws attention to the need to increase men’s uptake of testing and treatment services – goals from the NSP we must ensure are met! In South Africa, and in fact across the world, men are chronically underrepresented in HIV services, …
Every year on May 28, non-governmental organisations, governmental agencies and the private sector come together to celebrate Menstrual Hygiene Day and to highlight the importance of good menstrual hygiene management. This year’s World Menstrual Hygien …
Full of determination to promote gender equality, Men Engage Nigeria, MEN, has tasked men to end patriarchal spirits, in order to create an environment free of discrimination between boys/men and girls/women. This appeal was made recently in Lagos, at …
Sonke has worked with migrant boys living in Musina, Limpopo to produce a series of storytelling posters highlighting pressing issues in their community. Using the PhotoVoice methodology, the project encourages boys to use photography and writings to d …
A historic lawsuit presents the best opportunity to date to end the impunity with which mining companies exploit workers.
Ontlametse Raleru has a passion for youth development and has been working since 2016 to support young people and help them to reach their full potential. Within her portfolio as Youth leadership coordinator at Sonke Gender Justice, she has led capacit …
On September 3 and 4, Sonke attended the hearing of the Chief Justice nominee, Mogoeng Mogoeng, before the JSC. We danced, we tweeted, we got angry, we got on TV making shocked faces, and we spent at least ten hours of our lives with South Africa’s new …
Rural women and girls across Africa are more likely to be victims of harmful traditional practices such as female genital mutilation and child marriage than their urban counterparts.
“Please keep your voice down. I have explained to you already that she used all the money today.” “You will not tell me what to do in my house woman! How can she afford to think of luxurious things right now?” “She had no other choice. You have to unde …
… put a smile on my face everyday … cook nice food for me and play with me … play ball with me … make me laugh, hug me and hold me … take care of me … help me with homework and assignments … turn a bad day into a good day … give money t …
Nonhlanhla – Sonke’s CEM Unit manager – shares experiences from her youth that influenced her decision to become an activist.
Workers’ Day provides an opportunity to celebrate, honour and appreciate the value of workers across the globe as well as to reflect on pertinent issues that affect them. However, as we celebrate Workers’ Day, it is imperative to assess the status of w …
I joined Sonke two months ago on a part-time basis. It was a big shift for me. I went from running a large grant-making operation working across ten countries to working in a similar environment – but not being the boss. It was a decision I chose for a …
On International Day of Happiness, Sonke Gender Justice is pleased to share a new animated video, created through the Prevention+ program, which promotes gender-equal societies without violence, as well as happier and healthier relationships. Preventio …
Community radio stations (CRSs) are local radio stations that are run by and serve their communities. For many South Africans, CRSs are vital media for accessing information and news, particularly about their local and surrounding areas. People in rura …
Many studies show that men are under-represented in health services, including HIV services. Men get tested less than women. For instance, results from South Africa’s recent national HIV testing campaign reveal that men made up only 30% of the nearly 1 …
So, this happened… in May 2023, Namibia’s Supreme Court passed a progressive ruling that its government must recognise the unions of same-sex couples concluded in foreign countries where it was legal to do so. Though this step is recognised as somewhat …
The coalition’s written plea for help in the face of often violent health xenophobia is published here, since neither the minister nor the Gauteng health MEC has responded.
How the violent trauma caused by the Apartheid system has manifested in violent anti-authoritarian behaviour in today’s young men.
On Sunday, we celebrate International Women’s Day under the theme “I am generation equality: Realising women’s Rights”, which is aligned with UN Women’s new multigenerational campaign, Generation Equality, which marks the 25th anniversary of the Beijin …
How the overcrowded conditions of South Africa’s prisons contribute to the increased spread of disease and violence among prisoners.
Cheryllyn Dudley, an ACDP member of Parliament, has presented a Bill calling for paid paternity leave for new fathers.
How state-recognised paternity leave would improve quality of life for the whole family.
How one small minority movement – the Roman Catholic Womenpriests – is overthrowing the entrenched patriarchy of the Catholic Church.
December 1, 2011 is an enormously significant date for all South Africans. On that day, World AIDS Day, the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) will launch the new and finalized 2012-2016 National Strategic Plan for HIV, STIs and TB, which has …
In my capacity as a gender equality activist, I recently attended a conference titled Work/Force: masculinities in the South African media. Hosted by the Department of Visual Arts at Stellenbosch University and the University of Cape Town’s African Cin …
On a daily basis, newspapers across the country tell story after story of the horrors perpetrated against children: from the parents of a seven-week-old baby inflicting upon their baby three broken ribs, a fractured knee and brain injuries, to a man ar …
Ariane Nevin calls for further steps to be taken to mitigate the overcrowding of South Africa’s prisons.
After serving 9 years of an 18-year sentence for armed robbery, Thulani Ndlovu has founded Zonk’izizwe Odds Development, an NGO fighting to get prisoners’ rights on the national agenda.
An overview of Sonke Gender Justice’s One Man Can programme being implemented in Bushbucksridge, Mpumalanga.
n Sunday March 15, President Cyril Ramaphosa finally provided some guidance in relation to the spread of Covid-19 in South Africa. He mentioned several precautionary measures that would be implemented to curb the outbreak, including the imposition of a …
The most recent allegations of assault and intimidation against Mduduzi Manana indicate that not only is the cost of perpetrating violence against women clearly not high enough to deter men from continuing to perpetuate such crimes, but that Manana con …
“I express my deepest appreciation to the coordinators and sponsors of the gender, peace and security program allowing me to attend this prestigious event. I feel ‘empowered’ to continue with my community of practice applying the learnings to influence …
I sat down with Micheline Muzaneza, a trainer on Sonke’s Refugee Health and Rights project, to discuss the team’s recent success in running a workshop with Somalians in Cape Town. Somalis are a hard-to-reach community, especially when it comes to issue …
Sonke has just finalised an evaluation of the Red Card Campaign which was run between May and Dec 2010. The evaluation highlighted a number of internal and external challenges to the campaign, but generally backed up the campaign approach and materials …
Mateenah Hunter points out that the Pistorius trial is an exception in justice delivery for female victims of violence.
One woman’s strength and passion bridges the cultural divisions around her.
Over the last year, Sonke’s work globally but especially in Africa, through the MenEngage Alliance, has grown significantly, and we are working closely with many organisations in the region to engage men and boys on issues of gender and HIV. The policy …
Open letter to the Times of Swaziland written by MenEngage eSwatini member Kwakha Indvodza Sir, With the increasing media reports of individuals being arrested under the SODV Act, Kwakha Indvodza and partners note with increasing concern that instead o …
The increased availability of bio-medical HIV prevention approaches, like medical male circumcision (MMC), mark an important step towards reducing HIV infections. However, it is important that these methods not be divorced from the social contexts in w …
“Not any of the protective psychological barriers that I usually put up to help me believe ‘It won’t happen to me’ worked this time around.”
Since the beginning of the Aids epidemic, condoms have been the single most efficient available technology to reduce the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Condom use forms one of the three elements of the ABC strategy: Abst …
Whether the controversial BBC documentary My Neighbour the Rapist was scripted or not, it nonetheless hurts us all because it plays on our worst fears about rape without ever addressing the real issues at hand.
Zoe Black, a Zimbabwean sex worker and activist living in Cape Town, shares her troubling experiences as a victim of crime.
Sonke grapples with the difficult questions that must still be answered if we are to stem sexual harassment in the workplace and reflects on our approach.
In the town of Tsomo in the Eastern Cape, a young girl and her family leave the magistrates’ court after yet another postponement. It’s the case of an alleged rape of a minor, who was 13 at the time, by her school principal. The case, which started in …
The feminist movement in South Africa takes a step backwards as ministers and officials pass patronising comments at anti-GBV campaign.
Sonke has always believed strongly in the importance of civil society advocacy initiatives, and after extensive internal discussions we have decided to focus our advocacy efforts on supporting the Shukumisa Campaign to improve implementation of the Sex …
Women’s work caring for sick miners is invisible – Tanya Charles writes for GroundUp.
An opinion piece from the Mail & Guardian, written by policy development and advocacy specialist Marlise Richter.
Sonke laments the fact that Mayweather – a man known to be violent against women – is such a well-supported sportsman.
A freelance writer describes the pain of reporting on the horrors of gender-based violence.
Women and gender non-conforming people from Sonke Gender Justice, will be there, will you?
In March 2010, the Equality Court found Julius Malema guilty of hate speech and discrimination in a case brought by Sonke and ordered Mr Malema to apologise for statements he had made regarding Jacob Zuma’s rape accuser (and rape survivors in general) …
Subsequent to our preparing issue 7 of this newsletter, the Ivory Coast has again been destablised by civil unrest. The disagreement over election results has divided the country with devastating effects for the humanitarian work being done in the area …
Silicosis class action has positively impacted the rights of women and children who’ve depended upon, and cared for, sick miners.
As we commemorate Human Rights Month, here are eight reasons why every judicial officer should be visiting at least one South African prison a year.
“The South African youth must take up space and actively participate in forums for the betterment of their communities, they must also exercise their right to freedom of speech by advocating for change on social media”. This is according to Galetshwane …
An exploration of the psychological links between the rationalising of corporal punishment and the violence of Apartheid.
In order to break the cycle, we need to engage men and boys. Nowhere is this more clear than in the DRC, where brutality and sexual violence have earned eastern DRC the title, ‘capital of rape.’
Sexual abuse and HIV plague detention facilities in South Africa. However, people in prison are already being punished by having their freedom taken away from them. They are not there to experience additional forms of punishment or harm. Sexual abuse a …
Spend time with your child. That’s the answer that I have to the current frequently raised questions about the “alternatives to corporal punishment”. The constitutional court judgment that has cancelled the defence of reasonable chastisement and effect …
We cannot assume that someone who doesn’t speak up doesn’t have a story and isn’t a survivor.
Conservative estimates suggest that 26.7% of inmates in South African prisons 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 S …
It is widely accepted that taxi drivers and rank marshals in many South African communities – who are mostly men – don’t have the best reputation when it comes to dignified treatment of women. They are, to some, notorious for sexual harassment and enga …
Today (June 5), South Africans from all corners of this country will march to the Union Buildings in Pretoria against the signing into law of the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Bill and the Traditional Courts Bill. The proposed laws are viewed by …
Sonke is an active member of a new and important civil society initiative: the Alliance for Rural Democracy. The Alliance’s chief goal is to advocate against the Traditional Courts Bill, a Bill set to severely limit the rights of rural people to seek l …
An outline of how gender-based violence damages the national economy, and why the Zuma administration doesn’t act against it.
The port city of Merca lies in the south of Somalia and sits between the Lower Shabelle River and the Indian Ocean. It’s home to approximately 230 000 inhabitants, but for 29-year-old human rights activist, Abdillahi Ahmed Mohamed, Merca will always be …
One girl’s reflections on the loss of her loving father vis-a-vis the typical idea of fatherhood held by society.
“Don’t forget to wear a mask as you leave the house.” This is a daily reminder to a majority of children and youth as they are sent on errands or as they undertake outdoor activities. In a world that is constantly changing, this year stands out in a lo …
South Africa is facing a national crisis: horrific incidents of gender-based violence and xenophobia occur in our homes and on the streets, leading to collective expressions of outrage, an overwhelming sense of injustice, and fear. Such emotions lead t …
Donald Trump has been recruited for the second time by the American people to lead the American government for the next four years. Based on preceding experiences of a Trump led government and campaign speeches, there is a significant threat to women’s …
It is essential that the outcomes of the Summit and Declaration are shared far and wide to those facing the brunt of GBV, particularly in rural communities.
More than half of the children growing up in South Africa do so without a father present in the home. A confluence of history, poverty and harmful ideas about manhood has led to more and more men becoming absent in the lives of their children. In 2012, …
Stefanie Kotze’s opinion piece published by the Mail & Guardian on 7 December last year speaks out against the decriminalisation of sex work, which is currently proposed in a new bill published by the cabinet. Kotze says: “All p …
Patrick Godana was awarded this year’s Golden Key Award from the Golden Key International Honour Society. Read his speech from the event here.
Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right but also a necessary foundation for sustainable peace and security. In conflict-affected regions around the world, women often bear the brunt of violence and displacement, yet they are frequently ex …
Tuesday, 21 May, marks the day that Dudley Lee died, five years ago. Lee’s name is not known to most South Africans – but it should be. He spent over four years in Pollsmoor Remand prison (1999-2004), charged with various financial crimes, awaiting tri …
Sonke intern Marike Keller laments on society’s gradual desensitisation to the horrors of xenophobia.
Imagine if SONA actually was meaningful? By Marike Keller, Sonke Gender Justice.
Ariane Nevin explores the subtle ways in which societal oppression is conveyed through language.
Youth are by nature creative, innovative, energetic and vibrant. It is these traits that allow youth to design and formulate various ideas and projects globally. These ideas and projects when designed correctly are usually geared towards tackling vario …
Lwazi Sikoti joined Sonke as a Community Mobiliser and HIV Counsellor in 2017. Sikoti is an ambitious young person who is self-driven, who does his work with pride and compassion, and believes hard work and dedication is what has gotten him to achieve …
The Traditional Courts Bill is a hotly contested piece of draft legislation that Sonke and its partners in the Alliance for Rural Democracy view as a threat to many of the values and principles enshrined in the South African Constitution – especially t …
Women make up 50.2% of the Sub-Saharan African population. The average age of sexual debut for females in Africa, is below 18 years with reported statistics in some countries of 78% of females having had sexual debut before 18. Generally, Sub-Saharan r …
“Over the past two months, I have had the opportunity to take part in the MATI Building a feminist peace in Africa training course, organized by MenEngage Africa and the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF). The training, which br …
Amukelani Chauke’s journey in Communications and Social Media began with his humble beginning as a volunteer at Sonke Gender Justice. Through his work in the Community Mobilization and Education Unit, he discovered his passion for empowering young peop …
The executive director, Africa Focus for Youths’ Development, Mr. Emmanuel Gabari, has said that, to have a balanced society free of gender violence, the men folk must begin to accord their female counterparts necessary respects and begin to see them a …
Findings from the State of the World’s Fathers Report illustrate how inequality in the home creates a violent vicious cycle.
One in three women is bound to experience violence at least once in her lifetime. A statistic that is so overwhelming that we – as a collective – are committed to changing.
Outlining the devastating effects GBV has on the emotional, physical and mental health of people and on the economy and health systems.
Feminists around the world have mixed reactions to Bono’s “Women of the Year” award, presented to him by Glamour Magazine.
Sonke’s Marlise Richter warns against the stigmatising language government is using and its targeting of South Africa’s most marginalised groups.
Dean Peacock shares his story with Aspire and offers some advice on what men can do to promote gender equality and human rights.
Making sex work safer can lead to less HIV infections and gender-based violence, studies have shown.
HIV services are not geared towards men even though they make up two-thirds of the HIV-related deaths globally.
Sonke’s Director of Programmes, Angelica Pino, says we need to have a frank discussion about how access to sexual and reproductive health services is critical for the health and development of women and young girls.
After years of deliberation, the Umlazi Regional Court has passed judgement in the Umlazi T section case that caused outrage in the country few years ago. In 2007 Zandile Mpanza was assaulted and made to walk naked in public in Umlazi’s T section for d …
Sonke’s Patrick Godana how many more people need to be violated, assaulted and murdered before our government takes the scourge of gender-based violence seriously.
This article was first published on Women Under Siege’s website: www.womenundersiegeproject.org. Republished here with kind permission from the author. Let’s blame men. Many of us do – many women and even men blame men for the mass rape of women in war …
How young boys are often expected to be leaders and breadwinners, when they are not the men of the house.
In 2016, 60% of women of 15 years or older living with HIV were on treatment. Less than half their male peers could say the same.
Results from the 2015 General Household Survey have revealed both positive and negative trends affecting South African children.
We are not going to deal with the issues of gender-based violence if we leave the boys behind. This is relevant when it comes to accessing health services and challenging norms.
Nabeelah Mia explores the potential benefits that alternatives to imprisonment provide for an already overburdened justice system.
On the anniversary of Sonke and Lawyers for Human Rights’ Pollsmoor overcrowding court victory, we should remember why the state of our prisons matter – and consider what we should be doing to improve conditions.
Gat’Pany Wauy is a fellow of MATI 2024. He shared the state of conflict in his country, South Sudan and gained interest at localizing the lessons gained from the training to promote peace and social cohesion in his community. He also provided a descrip …
Wessel van den Berg argues that the acquisition of parenting skills should not be a prerequisite for the ending of corporal punishment.
This year’s International Youth Day theme “Youth Engagement for Global Action”, could not have come at a better time than now. Young people across the world are calling for their inclusion in governance and decision making platforms. The United Nations …
Introducing Thabani Kalala, a young person born and bred in Durban, KwaZulu Natal. Thabani is driven by human and community development. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Community Development from the University of South Africa. He founded the uMtwalume …
Thembelihle Madi, is Sonke’s Senior Trainer attached to the Community Education and Mobilisation portfolio. The Unit works with various communities across South Africa, engaging men and women, young people, the media, government and traditional and fai …
