Sonke Gender Justice

Publication Type: Conferences & Symposiums

  • Regional policy analysis of sexual and reproductive health and rights framework in Africa

    Regional policy analysis of sexual and reproductive health and rights framework in Africa

    Africa remains the region worst affected by sexual and reproductive ill health, accounting for high maternal deaths, unsafe abortion, teen and unintended pregnancies, HIV and unmet need for contraception.

    More importantly, universal access to SRHR services has remained low, especially for people in rural or disadvantaged communities. This situation is exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the impacts of climate change, shrinking civic space, economic instability, armed conflict, and humanitarian crises, which are critical issues that affect available resources and expose the inadequacies in the health sector in many African countries. Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) are fundamental human rights essential for overall well-being and development.

    However, access to SRHR services and information remains a major challenge in many African countries due to number of reasons, including restrictive policies, social stigma, and limited resources. Understanding the existing policy frameworks for SRHR across Africa is crucial for identifying gaps, promoting best practices, and advocating for  improved policies that ensure everyone can enjoy their SRHR.

  • MEA SRHR learning and exchange symposium outcome document

    MEA SRHR learning and exchange symposium outcome document

    The MenEngage Africa SRHR Learning and Exchange Symposium on the theme “SRHR for All: Building a Better Future for Africa’s Youth” has successfully concluded, bringing together a diverse range of stakeholders committed to advancing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in Africa. Hosted by Sonke Gender Justice in collaboration with partners such as the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), Save the Children International (SCI), Frontline AIDS, The Global Network of Young People living with HIV (Y+ Global), UNESCO, Community Centre for Impact, The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and technical partners. The symposium brought together 105 delegates representing most regions in Sub Saharan Africa, including young people in all their diversities, religious and traditional leaders, LGBTQI+ persons, and allies. This three-day event was a platform for reflection, learning, and action towards fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing, inclusive and innovative strategies to strengthen advocacy and programming for comprehensive sexuality education (CSE), safe abortion, and youth-friendly health services in Africa.

  • 3rd MenEngage Africa Symposium – Youth Declaration

    3rd MenEngage Africa Symposium – Youth Declaration

    We, the youth of MenEngage Africa, recognize that our our wellbeing and livelihoods within the African continent is met with multiple crises. With these crises unfolding globally and regionally, if we are to survive, thrive and contribute to gender equality and human rights in our diversities, then ethical meaningful inclusive youth involvement and engagement is our main recommendation.

    For too long, we have been excluded or only tokenistically included in the policy and decision-making processes affecting our lives, livelihoods, and futures. In advocating for meaningful engagement, we demand that our voices be heard, our lived experiences valued, our demands addressed, and our efforts, leadership, and agency acknowledged. We intend to achieve these goals not as passive beneficiaries but as initiators, leaders, partners and collaborators every step of the way.

    We are not waiting for an invitation to transform masculinities and harmful gender norms that greatly affect us all, specifically young women and girls. In fact, we want to be at the forefront of driving change; pioneering innovations, mobilizing our peers and communities, advocating for human rights and gender equality, working from the ground up to transform harmful norms, stigma and discrimination in youth directive and effectively managed approach.

    We emphasize our collective responsibility, duty, and opportunity to create a youth friendly network that is fully accessible and inclusive, one that centres on the needs of young women, refugees, young people living with disabilities, LGBTIQ+ persons, young people of color, and other vulnerable and marginalized youth groups – also emphasizing the intersectionality of these identities. We also highlight the importance of fostering intergenerational solidarity, dialogue, and partnership in this process.

    With this 3rd MenEngage Africa Youth Declaration, building on previous declarations from the 1st and Second MenEngage symposia in Johannesburg and Maputo respectively, we – the youth of the MenEngage Africa Alliance – present our common vision for promoting Gender Equality in Africa. It is the outcome of an extensive consultation process that began with a 2-day MenEngage Africa Youth Annual General meeting, attended by young people from over 17 countries within the MenEngage Africa Alliance.

    This Youth Declaration is founded on– and is a continuation of– the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly Sustainable Development Goal 5, and it builds on the purposes and principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Charter of the United Nations, that proclaims the inherent dignity and equal rights of all human beings, regardless of their sex, race, religion, or any other status.

  • 3rd MenEngage Africa Symposium – Declaration

    3rd MenEngage Africa Symposium – Declaration

    Inspired by the learnings and vibrant discussions among the 200 participants representing 26 countries at the 3rd MenEngage Africa (MEA) Symposium 2023, convened in Kigali, Rwanda, from August 14th to 16th, we present this Declaration to the public.

  • II MenEngage Africa Symposium Program

    II MenEngage Africa Symposium Program

  • Sonke Gender Justice at the 21st International AIDS Conference

    Sonke Gender Justice at the 21st International AIDS Conference

    A timetable of events that Sonke will be involved in at the 21st International AIDS Conference, being held in Durban, South Africa from 18–22 July 2016.

  • MenEngage Africa at the 21st International AIDS Conference

    MenEngage Africa at the 21st International AIDS Conference

    A timetable of events that MenEngage Africa will be involved in at the 21st International AIDS Conference, being held in Durban, South Africa from 18-22 July 2016.

  • Rights, Roles and Responsibilities of Men in Fast-Tracking the End of AIDS

    Rights, Roles and Responsibilities of Men in Fast-Tracking the End of AIDS

    The high level meeting on the “Rights, Roles and Responsibilities of Men in Fast-Tracking the End of AIDS”, will agree on the key elements to Fast-Track the HIV response among men and boys as a way of improving outcomes for them and their partners.

    This discussion will be informed by a collective analysis of how harmful gender norms drive the HIV epidemic among men and women, a review of the current state of the HIV epidemic among men, their access and utilization of HIV services, and whether the health systems are responsive to the needs of men and adolescent boys.

    In addition, the meeting will include a review of promising approaches to engage men and adolescent boys to challenge harmful gender norms, which increase both men’s and women’s vulnerabilities to HIV, and strategies to increase men’s access and utilization of HIV services.

  • Invitation to International meeting on community mobilisation to achieve gender equality and advance health and human rights

    Invitation to International meeting on community mobilisation to achieve gender equality and advance health and human rights

    Warm greetings from all of us at Sonke Gender Justice. We are writing to invite you to an international meeting on community mobilisation for gender justice, and for health and human rights.

    Scheduled to take place in either Bushbuckridge, Cape Town, or Johannesburg South Africa (TBD shortly) on the 4-6 November 2015, the meeting will bring together a mix of researchers, activists and policy makers from different parts of the world and from different health and human rights fields, who can together generate new insights into how community mobilisation can most effectively be used to achieve gender justice. The meeting will deliberately cast a wide net to include participants who have been involved in a broad range of mobilisation efforts for health and human rights, as well as those with more specific gender justice experience.

  • Engaging Men in South African HIV Policy for Gender Equality and HIV Prevention

    Engaging Men in South African HIV Policy for Gender Equality and HIV Prevention

    A growing body of evidence highlights that well-implemented programmes targeting men and boys can influence their attitudes, behaviours and their role as agents of change in the achievement of gender equality. This has benefits for women, children and men themselves. It is well acknowledged that gender inequalities cause women and girls to be more vulnerable to contracting HIV and evidence shows that engaging men for gender equality directly impacts on the spread and effects of HIV and AIDS. Given the enormous potential that men can play in curbing the spread and burden of HIV and AIDS, working with men and boys is integral to addressing gender inequalities, strengthening human rights and to improving the health and wellbeing of both men and women.

    While small-scale interventions exist to engage men in HIV prevention and treatment, a shared policy agenda on this issue among civil society, and national and regional policy makers is central to scaling-up this work and effecting significant changes in gender norms. Recognising this, Sonke Gender Justice undertook a detailed analysis of the HIV/AIDS and STI Strategic Plan for South Africa (2007–2011) during 2010. This formed part of Sonke’s broader and ongoing scan of national strategic plans (NSPs) from around the world, as well as the HIV policies of regional bodies.

    The main aims of this policy analysis were to: a) support advocacy to address policy gaps in terms of engaging men; and b) provide recommendations towards engaging men more directly in the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS.

    The results of this analysis were then used to shape Sonke’s policy advocacy work during the development of the 2012- 2016 NSP, which was channelled through the South African National AIDS Council Men’s Sector. The National Strategic Plan for HIV, STIs and TB (2012-2016) was then analysed in order to identify if any progress had been made since the 2007-2011 NSP. It was found that while the increased focus on engaging men within the current NSP is encouraging, there are areas that could still be further strengthened.

  • Policy Gaps in Engaging Men in HIV and SRH policies in Africa

    Policy Gaps in Engaging Men in HIV and SRH policies in Africa

    HIV and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services across Africa have predominately been targeted towards women and girls. While this is understandable, studies have found that in Africa men are less likely than women to access HIV and SRH services. This has an adverse effect on men’s health and is detrimental for women as well. While small-scale interventions exist to engage men on these issues, a shared policy agenda is central to scaling-up this work and achieving changes in gender norms and equality. Laws and policies significantly define and sustain gender norms by outlining what is considered to be officially acceptable or important. Owing to their national impact, laws and policies have the potential to lead to large-scale changes in men’s behaviours and attitudes relating to gender and health, and to challenge social norms and institutional cultures that continue to perpetuate inequalities and violence. Thus, Sonke Gender Justice conducted a regional analysis of how HIV and SRH-related policies and laws in Africa engage with men, in terms of their needs, and their potential role as partners and role models. This process sought to develop an evidence base for policy advocacy work aiming to increase the engagement of men in HIV prevention and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) promotion within public policy. It is important to remember that policies and laws alone cannot effect long-term and sustained change. While they are an integral first step, they must be followed up by effective implementation, genuine commitment from key stakeholders and broader national engagement.

  • Linking policy to practice

    Linking policy to practice

    Evidence increasingly shows that in order to end high levels of violence against women perpetrated across Africa, it is important to work with men and women together to change the social norms that perpetuate GBV, including challenging men’s behaviours and attitudes, as well as supporting men to take a stand against such violence. In addition to this, laws and policies have the potential to lead to large-scale changes in men’s attitudes and practices. It is therefore essential to build a shared policy agenda on engaging men and boys among civil society, national policymakers and regional bodies.

    In light of this, Sonke Gender Justice Network, along with its MenEngage country partners, was awarded a grant in 2011 by the UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women – administered by UN Women – to engage men and boys in Kenya, Rwanda and Sierra Leone to prevent violence against women. The goal of this project is to work with men and boys towards a conducive policy environment for GBV and HIV laws and policies in these three countries and the results are shared in this presentation at the SVRI Forum in Bangkok in 2013.

  • Strengthening a focus on engaging men in promoting gender equality and reducing the spread and impact of HIV

    Strengthening a focus on engaging men in promoting gender equality and reducing the spread and impact of HIV

    While small-scale interventions exist to engage men in HIV prevention and treatment, a shared policy agenda on this issue among civil society, and national and regional policy makers is central to scaling-up this work and achieving large-scale change in gender norms. Recognising this fact, a detailed analysis of National Strategic Plans (NSPs) on HIV and AIDS was undertaken in eleven countries across Africa in collaboration with civil society, government and UN partners.

    The main aims of this policy analysis were to:

    • support advocacy to address policy gaps in terms of engaging men;
    • provide recommendations towards engaging men more directly in the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS.
  • MenEngage Africa Regional Planning Meeting Report

    MenEngage Africa Regional Planning Meeting Report

    A total number of 65 participants attended the MenEngage Africa Regional Consultative meeting. This meeting held in Kampala, Uganda from 14 – 16 September 2011, involved 13 MenEngage Africa country networks. This consultation meeting was a joint effort in collaboration with UNFPA Africa Sub Regional Office and the MenEngage Africa Regional Network being coordinated by Sonke Gender Justice Network.

    The main aims of this meeting were to:

    1. Take stock of progress to date within Sub-Saharan Africa and draw on lessons learned on engaging men and boys in promoting gender equality, preventing GBV and sexual exploitation, and reducing the spread and impact of HIV within the region;
    2. Develop strategies to implement the UNFPA Africa Regional Framework on Working with Men and Boys for the Promotion of Gender Equality and Reproductive Health at a regional and country level, and to strengthen collaboration between UNFPA and MenEngage country networks;
    3. Share and validate resources and processes that can contribute to the work of gender equality organizations focusing on the involvement of men and boys, including the MenEngage Africa Training Initiative (MATI); and
    4. Agree on the outline of a three year MenEngage Africa operational plan aligning it with the UNFPA Regional Male Involvement Framework.

    In particular, this meeting sought to build the necessary momentum and collaboration to further advance this work across Africa. It also ensured that the work remains accountable to, and in close collaboration with, a range of partners and organizations, particularly the women’s movement. Moreover, the meeting provided a road map for scaling up MenEngage activities, the impact and sustainability of work over the next 2-3 years with men and boys on promoting gender equality, preventing GBV and sexual exploitation, and reducing the spread and impact of HIV and AIDS within Africa.

  • Integrating into National AIDS plans strategies to prevent gender-based violence and engage men and boys to achieve gender equality

    Integrating into National AIDS plans strategies to prevent gender-based violence and engage men and boys to achieve gender equality

    In spite of greater knowledge about – and evidence of – the intersections between HIV, gender inequality and violence against women and girls, programming has not yet reached the scale, depth or breadth required to reverse the epidemics of gender-based violence and of HIV or effectively integrate men and boys in efforts to challenge and change harmful gender norms.

    This meeting formed part of growing efforts to address the intersections of gender and HIV and AIDS, including: addressing the HIV needs of women and girls, enhancing efforts to integrate a focus on violence against women and its relationship to HIV vulnerability into HIV and AIDS responses, and actively engaging men and boys in achieving gender equality and in challenging the constructions of masculinities that exacerbate the spread and impact of HIV and AIDS, with an array of countries presenting their current efforts of addressing this.

  • MenEngage Regional Conference to scale-up policy approaches to engaging men and boys for Gender equality in Africa

    MenEngage Regional Conference to scale-up policy approaches to engaging men and boys for Gender equality in Africa

    Gender inequality in Africa continues to undermine democracy, impede development and compromise people’s lives in dramatic ways. Indeed many studies have shown that contemporary gender roles and especially rigid notions of manhood contribute to gender-based violence, and increase in maternal mortality and exacerbate the spread and impact of HIV and AIDS.

    Achieving economic, social and development goals within the continent requires individuals, government and civil society to build a more gender equitable society with healthier gender roles for women and men. To be effective, strategies must not only empower women, but should engage men and bring about significant changes in men’s attitudes and practices towards sex, reproduction, women and their own health.

    In recognition of the need for a stronger focus on engaging men and boys in promoting gender equality and addressing the public health challenges which the continent faces, the Africa MenEngage Alliance was established. Over a very short period of time this alliance has expanded rapidly, and now has a significant number of members and active country networks. This Alliance recently held a tremendously successful MenEngage Africa Symposium, attracting participants from across the content, and producing the Johannesburg Declaration and Call to Action. Similar developments have taken place across the globe, providing evidence of the growing interest in work with men and boys, and the realization that males have an essential role to play in achieving gender equality and social justice.

  • MenEngage Africa Symposium Report

    MenEngage Africa Symposium Report

    The symposium brought together organisations and policymakers from across Africa to build civil society and government capacity to work with men and boys to respond to gender-based violence and HIV. The symposium had the general objective of looking at ways of working with men and boys to achieve gender equality.

    Specific objectives included:

    • To add to and share information related to the growing body of evidence, confirming that programmes targeting men and boys can result in changes in attitude and behaviour.
    • To bring attention to the need to build a more coherent and robust body of regional and national policies, in order to increase the scale and impact of the work that needs to be done.
    • To look at ways in which these policies need to support and build upon the existing international, regional, national and local commitments towards gender justice.
  • Strengthening Civil Society and Government Capacity to Work with Men and Boys to Respond to Gender-Based Violence and HIV across Africa

    Strengthening Civil Society and Government Capacity to Work with Men and Boys to Respond to Gender-Based Violence and HIV across Africa

    The MenEngage Africa Symposium brought together organisations and policymakers from across Africa to build civil society and government capacity to work with men and boys to respond to gender-based violence and HIV. This symposium specifically looked at ways of working with men and boys to achieve gender equality. It aims to add to and share information around the growing body of evidence confirming that programmes targeting men and boys can result in changes in attitude and behaviour. It specifically focused on the need to build a more coherent and robust body of policy, both within countries and across the region, to increase the scale and impact of the work that needs to be done. These policies need to support and build upon the existing international, regional and national commitments towards gender justice.

  • Engaging Men and Boys in Refugee Settings to Address Sexual and Gender Based Violence

    Engaging Men and Boys in Refugee Settings to Address Sexual and Gender Based Violence

    A four-day regional workshop was facilitated by Sonke Gender Justice Network (Sonke) and the Women’s Commission for Refugee Women and Children (Women’s Commission), in cooperation with UNHCR, to increase and encourage the involvement of men and boys in the work against sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).

    The participants consisted of multifunctional teams from nine different countries in the Great Lakes region, Eastern Africa and Southern Africa (Uganda, Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Namibia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Rwanda), a professor from St Cloud’s University and the founder of MAGE in Sierra Leone.

    The workshop had three main objectives:

    1. Awareness raising for UNHCR staff, people of concern and NGO partners on addressing masculinities.
    2. Skills building for UNHCR staff, people of concern and NGO partners on how to integrate masculinities into programs to address SGBV and promote gender equality.
    3. Development of a critical mass of trainers to undertake training on masculinities throughout the region.
  • MenEngage Regional Consultation Meeting for Sub-Saharan Africa

    MenEngage Regional Consultation Meeting for Sub-Saharan Africa

    In 2006, USAID’s Interagency Gender Working Group (IGWG) developed a plan with EngenderHealth and Instituto Promundo to support the MenEngage activities in Sub-Saharan Africa. USAID agreed to support a capacity building workshop on programs for men and boys that would also serve as the first MenEngage Alliance Regional Consultation for Africa. The first day of the workshop focused on introducing participants to a framework for engaging men and boys and different approaches used to engage men and boys in RH programming. The second day of the workshop was geared towards skills-building and participants had the opportunity to learn skills in working with men and boys on an individual level, at the service delivery level and the community level. The third and fourth days of the workshop focused on identifying ways to carry work with men forward in the region. This paper provides an overview of the meetings that took place, including the action plans that resulted from them.