Sonke Gender Justice

Publication Type: External Reports

  • 2022 Global Health 50/50 Report: Boards for All?

    2022 Global Health 50/50 Report: Boards for All?

    The fifth annual Global Health 50/50 report, Boards for all?, presents the first-ever analysis of the gender and geography of who governs global health. Through an examination of the demographics of over 2,000 board members of the most influential organisations active in global health, the report warns that global health is not living up to its name.

    The report further presents its annual review of the equality- and gender-related policies and practices of 200 global organisations. Building on five years of evidence, it finds signs of rapid progress in building more equitable and gender-responsive global health organisations, while also revealing stagnating progress among a large subset of global health organisations. For the first time, the Index categorises all organisations by performance and presents dedicated pages for each organisation to explore and compare findings.

    Boards for all? is a call to realise a globally representative and equitable global health governance that can deliver health for all.

    “Ensuring the leadership and influence of people from low- and middle-income countries, and especially women, is not only a question of equity – however essential – but of the very relevance, effectiveness and impact of the global health enterprise.” Elhadj As Sy, Chair of the Kofi Annan Foundation

  • Gender equality: Flying blind in a time of crisis

    Gender equality: Flying blind in a time of crisis

    The 2021 Global Health 50/50 report, “Gender equality: Flying blind in a time of crisis,” reviews the gender-related policies and practices of 201 global organisations active in global health.

    Against the backdrop of a calamitous 2020, the report finds notable areas of progress and hope. The new data and research show that organisational commitment to gender equality is surging, and that organisations are becoming more transparent about their policies on shaping diverse, inclusive and equitable working environments for people.

    The latest data also suggest, however, that rhetoric is often used as a substitute for action. The report reveals that the vast majority of programmatic activity to prevent and address the health impacts of COVID-19 largely ignores the role of gender. Evidence gathered by the GH5050 collective of researchers, strategists and practitioners shows that gender influences everything from who gets tested for COVID-19 to risk of severe disease and death. Yet, in a male-default world, the report finds that gender as a driver of everyone’s health, including that of men and boys, remainsunder-appreciated, under-counted and under-addressed. The result is gender-blind pandemic responses that are less effective than they should be, with grave consequences for the health of people around the world.

    The year 2020 marked the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a global blueprint for gender equality and women’s rights. This year, however, sees the appointment of yet another cohort of mostly male global health leaders, predominantly from high-income countries, with the mandate to exert influence over the health and wellbeing of people worldwide. Despite substantial rhetoric, the data reveals little progress towards gender equality and diversity in leadership across the health sector and a widening gender pay gap.

    In the face of multiple global crises, a global health system dominated by individuals and institutions in high-income countries forgoes essential talent, knowledge and expertise, with serious implications for pandemic preparedness, progress on Universal Health Coverage and meeting the health-related targets of the Sustainable Development Goals.

  • MenEngage Africa Evaluation of Activities: Phase 1

    MenEngage Africa Evaluation of Activities: Phase 1

    MEA seeks to have the following impact, “women, men and children enjoy more equitable, healthy and happy relationships that contribute to the development of just and democratic societies”.

    During this phase of the programme, the focus of activities has been on building the MEA structures and networks. This evaluation has found that there has been extensive capacity building, and that the technical support provided, on-going training, as well as the sub-grants, have made an important contribution to strengthening structures, and that both the Regional and Country Steering Committees are formally constituted and have regular meetings. Both focus and non-focus countries explain the ways in which the capacity building has enhanced their ability to undertake advocacy and programme activities, though it is evident that this is more strongly expressed in countries that are receiving the grants. This evaluation also found evidence that the technical support, that the members of the country secretariats received, has enhanced their ability to seek and secure funding for the work of the network. The role of MATI was specifically cited as contributing to the ability of the network to undertake these activities and to mobilise local resources.

  • Sonke Gender Justice: Achievements against Results

    Sonke Gender Justice: Achievements against Results

    This meta review of Sonke’s work consisted of a review of external evaluations. which relied on a range of designs and methodologies:
    five of these studies relied on randomised control designs, two were quasi experimental designs, and at least 15 used a participatory design. Many of these studies utilised a mixed method approach to ensure that the findings were contextualised and that the approach adopted was consistent with the values of the organisation. In addition to independent evaluative studies, this meta review also refers to internal reports and articles written by Sonke. These are used to provide a description of the work that has been done to assist to make meaning of the findings. However, the evidence that has been relied on to inform the evaluative findings with respect to successes and challenges has been drawn only from evaluative studies. These include the myriad of external evaluation studies that have been undertaken on the different aspects of the work of Sonke. In addition, where there were internal evaluative studies conducted utilising credible methodologies these were also referred to, as the findings are considered valid and they represent an important element of the organisation’s on-going commitment to strengthening its practice.

  • MenEngage Africa Evaluation of Activities: Phase 2

    MenEngage Africa Evaluation of Activities: Phase 2

    As part of the research for the overall evaluation, we sent surveys to members of the country networks. We received responses from representatives of 37 organisation s from 11 countries within the MEA Network. We used these responses as the basis for this ‘deep dive’ and analysed the survey data from the se 37 country m ember respondents in five core categories so as to understand degrees of ‘satisfaction’ – we essentially ‘ranked’ the 11 countries from least to most satisfied, based on responses from members of the Network in those countries.

    In the survey distributed to country network members, most questions required respondents to respond to a statement, where 1 was completely disagree and 5 is completely agree. In undertaking this ‘deep dive’ into the data, we looked at the answers to the questions related to the following five key categories across two areas, Network Strengthening and Network Achievement:

    • Network Strengthening

    • o Views on the CREDIBILITY of the Network
    • o Views on SUPPORT & INTERACTION between country members
    • o Views on CAPACITY BUILDING
    • o Views on members’ PARTICIPATION & ACTION

    • Network Achievement

    • o Views on ACHIEVEMENT OF OUTCOME
  • A Report on Training Programmes

    A Report on Training Programmes

    This evaluation focuses on three core training and education courses provided by Sonke Gender Justice (hereafter Sonke) together with its partners:

    • Women’s Health and Empowerment – MenEngage Africa Training Initiative (MATI)
    • The University of Pretoria / Sonke Advanced Human Rights Course (UP)
    • University of California Los Angeles School of Law and Sonke Fellowship Programme (UCLA)
  • The Hate & Bias Crimes Monitoring Project Form Report

    The Hate & Bias Crimes Monitoring Project Form Report

    At the incep on of this project in 2013, the research team set out to document 900 (for methodological reasons) cases of hate crime, hate speech, and inten onal unfair discrimina on covering a wide range of vulnerable marginalised, or historically marginalised, sectors of society. The geographic scope of the project included ve provinces in South Africa, namely the Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, and Western Cape. By September 2017, 1061 cases had been documented, 945 of which were retained for analysis. In this research report, we re ect on factors that enabled or hampered data gathering using the Hate Crimes Monitoring Form; we report the key ndings from the longitudinal study; and we make recommenda ons based on these ndings.

    Between January 2013 and February 2017, more than 150 individual volunteers or members of sta represen ng at least 85 organisa ons were trained in the use of the Monitoring Form for the purpose of gathering data about the types of hate crimes that are being perpetrated in South Africa and the impact thereof on our society. This training drive resulted in the successful uptake of the Monitoring Form in a few organisa ons which are now able to monitor and record hate crimes within their cons tuencies. However the majority of service providers were unable to integrate the use of the Form into their opera ons, resul ng in recording far fewer cases than expected and the skewing of the data towards only a few vulnerable sectors. Challenges in the data gathering process were categorised broadly as ins tu onal (rela ng to case intake procedures and organisa onal capacity restric ons); individual (rela ng to the willingness of par cipants to disclose informa on); and instrumental (rela ng to di cul es experienced in the use of the Form itself).

    Nonetheless useful informa on emerged from the analysis of the available data and we were able to highlight a number of per nent ndings. Key among these ndings is that prejudice is rife in our communi es across all socio-economic levels and that it facilitates discrimina on and ul mately the dehumanisa on that preludes and accompanies hate crime.

  • Understanding Masculinities

    Understanding Masculinities

    The International Men and Gender Equality Survey – Middle East and North Africa (IMAGES MENA) study includes quantitative and qualitative research with men and women aged 18 to 59 in Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, and Palestine. Local research partners are: (1) Egypt: El-Zanaty and Associates; Social Research Center, American University in Cairo (AUC); (2) Lebanon: Connecting Research to Development (CRD); ABAAD; (3) Morocco: Association Migration Internationale (AMI); Rajaa Nadifi (independent researcher); Gaëlle Gillot (independent researcher); (4) Palestine: Institute of Women’s Studies at Birzeit University.

  • Male engagement in the HIV response

    Male engagement in the HIV response

    Gender inequalities and harmful gender norms are important drivers of the HIV epidemic, and they are major hindrances to an effective HIV response. While access to HIV services for women and girls remains a concern, a growing body of evidence also shows that men and adolescent boys have limited access to HIV services.

  • Evaluation of the Policy Development & Advocacy Unit

    Evaluation of the Policy Development & Advocacy Unit

    Sonke recently commissioned an external evaluation of its Policy Development and Advocacy (PDA) Unit, focusing on work funded by the Embassy of Finland in Pretoria’s Local Cooperation Fund from 2013–2015. The PDA Unit leads the organisation’s strategic legal and policy advocacy efforts in South Africa. The unit works to shape legal and policy decisions on gender equality, sexual and gender-based violence, HIV and AIDS, and human rights. The PDA Unit utilizes a mix of responsive actions, and long-term advocacy to achieve its goals, including rapid response advocacy on topical developments, impact litigation to galvanize reform and ensure implementation where the State is unresponsive; coalition building to strengthen the collective action of civil society; as well as empirical, legal and other research to inform advocacy efforts. Singizi Consulting conducted the external evaluation.

  • Human Rights Commission Report on corporal punishment and Joshua Generation Church

    Human Rights Commission Report on corporal punishment and Joshua Generation Church

    The South African Human Rights Commission has instructed Cabinet to require the Department of Social Development (DSD) to, as soon as possible, bring South African law into line with various international human rights treaties which is has ratified and its own Constitution by prohibiting corporal punishment in the home.

    Findings critical to addressing the extraordinarily and unacceptably high levels of violence against children in our country have been made in an Investigative Report released today by the South African Human Rights Commission (HRC). The Investigation was conducted as the result of a complaint made in October 2013 at the commission by Adriaan and Hannah Mostert, Carol Bower and Sonke Gender Justice. The complainants have objected against a parenting manual published by the Joshua Generation Church (JGC), which used four of its 39 pages to describe the length and thickness of the rod which parents should use in training up (sic) children as young as one-year-old.

  • On the Fast-Track to End AIDS

    On the Fast-Track to End AIDS

    The AIDS movement, led by people living with and affected by HIV, continues to inspire
 the world and offer a model for a people-centred, rights-based approach to global health and social transformation. And yet, today, amid a swirl of competing and complex global concerns, we confront a serious new obstacle: the oppressive weight of complacency. This is happening when we know that if we make the right decisions and the right investments now, the end of AIDS can be within our grasp. This moment is, however, fleeting. We have a fragile window of opportunity – measured in months – in which to scale up.

    If we do not Fast-Track our response, the costs of the epidemic – to national finances and to human lives – will grow into a debt we can never repay. We will fail to reach the sustainable development agenda target of ending the AIDS epidemic. The epidemic will resurge, this time as an orphan disease. We will have squandered the global political capital we have worked so hard to win, and the AIDS response will have lost its unique power to transform global health and save millions of lives.

    The UNAIDS 2016–2021 Strategy is a bold call to action to get on the Fast-Track and reach people being left behind. It is an urgent call to front-load investments. It is a call to reach the 90–90–90 treatment targets, to close the testing gap and to protect the health of the 22 million people living with HIV who are still not accessing treatment. It is a call to redress the deplorably low treatment coverage for children living with HIV.

  • 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

    This discussion paper focusses on men, adolescent boys and HIV, and specific additional actions needed to Fast-Track the End of AIDS to improve the lives of men and women. First, it outlines how gender norms and harmful masculinities increase men’s HIV risk and negatively impact on behavior (to the detriment of women and men) and secondly, looks at the evidence and best practices in addressing these impacts and transforming harmful gender norms.

    The paper also examines how current health policy, systems and services could be improved to increase men’s access and improve health outcomes overall.

  • ‘They call me warrior’

    ‘They call me warrior’

    Given the extent to which Sierra Leone’s decade-long war and people’s experiences of sexual and gender-based violence remain present in everyday life, it follows that work to foster social transformation will also need to be conducted through careful long-term engagement. This requires requires long-term transnational collective action that is sustained and sensitive, linking international development actors with local organisations to collectively ‘sow the seeds of change’ to empower women and girls in Sierra Leone, recommends this report by our partners, Men’s Association for Gender Equality – Sierra Leone (MAGE-SL).

  • Too costly to ignore

    Too costly to ignore

    Gender-based violence (GBV), and in particular violence against women, is one of the most expensive public health problems globally and has a fundamental impact on economic growth which can span several generations. More than 30 studies, mostly from developed countries, have attempted to quantify the costs of various forms of violence against women. These studies focus largely on the costs of services, and the economic losses due to lost output, decreased productivity and lower earnings resulting from violence. While the estimates per country vary depending on the scope and focus of the study, the magnitude is clear. Some of the most comprehensive studies, in both developed and developing countries, estimate the cost of violence to be between 1-2% of GDP, and these are widely accepted to be under-estimates, given the conservatism of the methodology and the gross under- reporting of violence.

    In South Africa, domestic violence and gender-based violence aimed at women is high across all economic and racial groupings. Despite a decrease, the female homicide rate in 2009 was five times the global rate, and the national intimate partner violence homicide rate more than twice that in the United States. While national prevalence rates of all types of gender-based violence, not just those that result in death, are not available for South Africa, it is clear that it is a real problem of great magnitude. However, so far no attempt has been made to comprehensively estimate the full economic impact this has on the South African economy.

  • South African Child Gauge 2014

    South African Child Gauge 2014

    Sonke is pleased to announce the launch of the ninth South African Child Gauge report which is published annually by the Children’s Institute at the University of Cape Town and which monitors progress towards realising children’s rights. The 2014 report focuses on the prevention of violence against children and includes many telling statistics which indicate how children in South Africa are faring.

  • Information Package Men, Gender Equity & Health

    Information Package Men, Gender Equity & Health

    This information package on men, gender equity and health looks at how gender roles affect the health of both men and women. It addresses health problems including HIV/AIDS, sexual and reproductive health, communicable disease, chronic disease and mental health, as well as health-related activities including tobacco, alcohol and drug use and parenting.

    The package, which is aimed at WHO staff, the global public health community and interested civil society groups, reviews the issues that are central to the relationship between gender equity and each of these health problems and health-related activities, as well as the current policy and programme responses to these issues. Based on this review, the package offers some key recommendations for the public health community on policy, programming and research.

  • Prevention of HIV/AIDS in the South African Armed Forces

    Prevention of HIV/AIDS in the South African Armed Forces

    In societies most affected by HIV/AIDS, it is a country’s military institutions, and the men and women who serve in them, that are often hardest hit. The rate of HIV infection is often much higher in the armed forces than it is in the rest of the population.

    In many African countries, including South Africa, the defence forces are not merely the most vulnerable to HIV infection; they are also the most likely to spread the infection. High rates of HIV infection are often found in civilian populations living near military bases or are associated with the movements of soldiers. In navy ports and garrisons far from towns, soldiers often have a limited choice of partners. Many men from the same company are likely to have sex with the same women over a period of time; when that company is replaced, the new soldiers have intercourse with the same women. It is also highly likely that many of these troops will have regular contact with sex workers. Soldiers are generally posted away from their families and partners, increasing the likelihood that they may seek out sexual partners locally.

    In this situation, even if only a small number of soldiers or their partners have HIV at the beginning, unprotected sex and sharing of partners will soon cause HIV to spread. Furthermore, there is increasing evidence of an association between sexual violence, HIV transmission and military forces. The use of rape as a weapon of war has been well documented. But the sexual abuse of host communities by military peacekeeping operations has also been reported in recent years.

    In the military, the ethos of risk-taking can further intensify the negative effects of traditional gender norms. In South Africa, as in the rest of the world, prevailing gender roles and expectations drive the spread of HIV, especially in traditional male-oriented structures such as the military. These gender roles and expectations grant men the power to initiate and dictate the terms of sex, make it extremely difficult for women to protect themselves from HIV, and tacitly support men’s violence against women, behaviours that further exacerbate the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

    Results of a research study conducted by the SANDF focusing on violence against women within the Department of Defence, clearly showed the significance of gender stereotypes and patriarchal beliefs and behaviour in precipitating violence against women, compromising their health as well as their decision-making ability. Informed by this research and the recognition of the importance of addressing gender issues in HIV/AIDS work within the military, the collaborating partners worked with the SANDF to develop the Gender Equity Programme (GEP).

  • Trend Lines

    Trend Lines

    This chapter explores South Africa’s dilemma, namely that its incremental progress and growth are undermined by ongoing and systemic armed violence and inequality. It applies the emerging optic of armed violence prevention, which focuses on understanding and addressing the contributing and inhibiting drivers of armed violence.

    This chapter is divided into two main sections. The first provides an overview of trends in armed violence since 1994, focusing on the most recent available data, covering 2011–12. It also draws on research from other contexts to highlight some of the factors that appear to contribute to or inhibit armed violence generally. The second section concentrates on factors that appear most relevant to the South African context and assesses national policies to prevent gun violence, policing challenges, and civil society armed violence prevention efforts. It closes with reflections on the possible directions for future research and prevention activities.

  • Decriminalising Sex Work in South Africa

    Decriminalising Sex Work in South Africa

    All countries struggle with the legal treatment of prostitution or sex work, a practice that is as old as history itself. South Africa is no exception. The current legal situation in South Africa involves the criminalization of sex work with consequences such as the abuse of sex workers’ rights, violence against them and abusive treatment by the police. Very often societal perceptions of sex work are informed by religious opinion that views sex work as “sin” and sex workers as “fallen or sinful” women, splitting the world into a dichotomy of good and bad girls/women, and treating it as a moral issue. These views very rarely stigmatize the buyers of sex work who are mostly men.

    This report provides a rights-based approach and the official position of the Commission for Gender Equality, but highlighting the current discourses on sex work and providing alternative arguments that the current criminalization of sex work is unconstitutional and a violation of human rights.

  • ‘Marriage Above All Else’

    ‘Marriage Above All Else’

    South Africa continues to be a nation that is celebrated for producing one of the most progressive constitutions in the world. In an effort to depart from its oppressive apartheid past, the Constitution of South Africa, as the supreme law of the land, ‘…lays the foundation for an open society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights…’. While this legislation continues to guarantee the rights of its citizens, after two decades of democratic governance, it is evident that what is aspired to in the Constitution is not being fully realised in reality. There exists a disjuncture between the ethos of this – and other laws – and the realisation of the human rights they embody, especially for people who do not conform to hegemonic gender and sexuality norms.

    This report comments on the policymaking processes that led to the development of the White Paper on Families as it exists in its current iteration. The report highlights the power dynamics that have led to the inclusion and exclusion of specific content and language, particularly around the notion of what constitutes a family in contemporary South Africa. It considers the diverse roles played in the drafting of this document by civil society representatives, government representatives and the general public. On the basis of interviews with these actors and a close reading of the white paper, this report points to two worrying trends in the making of policies and laws in South Africa: (1) public policy in South Africa is becoming increasingly conservative as a result of religious and cultural doctrines which do not recognise sexual diversity or support the engendering of human rights in society; (2) the South African government and its representatives are promoting a heteronormative value system in its policy and programming, despite resistance from civil society. Most significantly, this paper illustrates that the cabinet’s approval of this policy could mean that access to resources will be determined by the extent to which one’s family fits the narrow, heterosexist definition of a family being promoted in the white paper.

  • Les relations de genre, les violences sexuelles et les effets du conflit sur les femmes et les hommes au Nord Kivu, dans l’Est de la République Démocratique du Congo

    Les relations de genre, les violences sexuelles et les effets du conflit sur les femmes et les hommes au Nord Kivu, dans l’Est de la République Démocratique du Congo

    Alors que beaucoup d’efforts et d’études ont été entrepris pour habiliter les femmes et les assister à se récupérer d’un viol dans le contexte de la RDC, et autre paramètres de conflit et post-conflit, peut nombreux ont examiné l’impact de la non- réhabilitation sur les hommes et sur la question de savoir comment les relations basées sur le genre sont affectées par les conflits. Par ailleurs, plusieurs études affirment la nécessité d’inclure des hommes et des garçons dans les initiatives visant à promouvoir l’égalité basée sur le genre en mettant fin a la violence sexuelle liée sur le genre en RDC.

    L’étude ici présente vise à fournir une compréhension nuancée de savoir comment les relations basées sur le genre sont elles touchées par le conflit et en réponse, informent- elles à leurs tour le besoin en réponses urgents pour le développement sociale, humanitaire et des droits de l’homme. Ca fait partie des efforts entrepris par Promundo et Sonke Gender Justice d’engager des hommes et des garçons – aux côtés des femmes et des filles – comme agents pour le changement et militants pour mettre fin à l’impunité autour de la violence sexuelle pour la promotion de la justice basée sur les genres et la justice sociale.

  • Gender Statistics in South Africa, 2011

    Gender Statistics in South Africa, 2011

    South Africa ranks fourth among the 87 countries covered by the 2012 Social Institutions and Gender Index of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. It is the highest ranked country in Africa in this index. South Africa’s high ranking reflects the country’s strong legal framework in respect of gender equality and women’s rights. South Africa also performs well against the indicators specified for Goal 3 of the Millennium Development Goals, the goal that focuses on gender equality and women’s empowerment. At 45% South African parliament is second in Africa after Rwanda in terms women representatives in Parliament.

    Nevertheless, on the ground discriminatory practices, social norms and persistent stereotypes often shape inequitable access to opportunities, resources and power for women and girls. Further, serious gender related challenges persist, including unacceptable levels of gender-based violence.

    This publication contains a wealth of data that we hope will be useful in taking forward the commitment of the government and the wider society to a non-sexist and non-racist South Africa.

  • What About the Boys?

    What About the Boys?

    Gender-based violence and discrimination is a society-wide problem, which requires a society-wide solution. In 2011, India ranked the worst G20 country to be a woman. National statistics show an 873% increase in rape cases from 1971 to 2011. To tackle rife inequalities, men and women have to be involved in preventive and curative efforts. Men must be given an opportunity to reflect on and reconstruct attitudes around gender. It is now universally acknowledged both in theory and practise that this can help reduce incidences of discrimination and violence. However, efforts in India and worldwide have generally been small scale. Initiatives in India are largely targeted at schools and low income communities. These have been resource intensive, using professionally trained staff to deliver specially designed programs. Involvement of state agencies in these efforts has been minimal. This report considers how to scale efforts in India. The question asked by the research was “How can every young man and boy in India be given the opportunity to reflect on and practise gender equitable behaviour?” Answers to this question were derived from interviews with 14 professionals in this field. There was consensus that boys need to be raised to develop and adopt gender sensitive attitudes and behaviours from a young age. The report highlights the following three actors central to facilitating this process at a large scale.