Sonke Gender Justice

Publication Type: Reports

  • State of Africa’s Fathers 2015

    State of Africa’s Fathers 2015

    This report is an adaptation of the global State of the World’s Fathers Report, which was produced by MenCare, a global campaign to promote men and boys’ involvement as equitable, non-violent caregivers. With activities in more than 30 countries, MenCare partners carry out joint advocacy initiatives, research, and programming to engage men in positive parenting, equitable caregiving, violence prevention and in maternal, newborn, and child health. The campaign is coordinated by Promundo and Sonke Gender Justice, with Rutgers, Save the children, and the MenEngage alliance serving as Steering committee members. For more information about the campaign and its partners, visit MenCare at MenCare.org.

    The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of any of its affiliated organizations. For a list of any errors or omissions found subsequent to printing please contact: [email protected].

  • MenCare Annual Report 2014

    MenCare Annual Report 2014

    MenCare+: Engaging men in a 4-Country Initiative – is a three-year (2013-2015), four country collaboration between Rutgers WPF and Promundo-US, working with long-term national and regional partners. Girls’ and women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights are critically hindered by rigid gender and cultural norms for women and men. Women often lack decision-making power and are at greater risk of HIV and gender-based violence. MenCare+ engages boys and men in social change and to improve the health of women, men and children, as caregiving partners to stop gender-based violence, and to build respectful relationships. Fatherhood offers an opportunity to reach young and adult men with a new perspective on manhood. When men become more involved and supportive as fathers and partners, intimate relationships improve and violence decreases, women’s rights advance, and children have better development outcomes. MenCare+ started in 2013. This document describes the results of 2014, the second year of the MenCare+ programme.

  • Towards safety and equality for women and girls

    Towards safety and equality for women and girls

    Central to the concept of gender are the notions of power, decision-making, control and ownership. Historically, gender relations have always been grossly unequal, often to the extent that women are reduced to second-class citizens or even harmed or killed on the basis of their gender.

    The initial part of this study, divided into three chapters, draws on baseline surveys carried out in Kenya, Rwanda and Sierra Leone respectively. Conducted by partner organizations of Sonke Gender Justice (as well as the United Nations Trust Fund), they employ different methodologies to derive both quantitative and qualitative findings.

    What follows thereafter is a comparative analysis of these findings, a section which consolidates the earlier information in an attempt to add valuable new perspectives to our understanding of gender inequality, GBV, and the many complex factors which perpetuate them.

  • MenEngage Alliance at the 59th session of the Commission on the Status of Women

    MenEngage Alliance at the 59th session of the Commission on the Status of Women

    The 59th session of the Commission on the Status of Women took place from 9-20 March 2015. It was a historical session as it commemorated the 20th anniversary of the 4th World Conference on Women in Beijing, which marked the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. MenEngage was well represented through the activities of the members of the alliance and the global secretariat. This CSW has been a landmark moment for building up the MenEngage movement.

    Moreover it was encouraging to see the broad support voiced at this CSW for engaging men and boys. Many women and men supported this as an important piece of the puzzle to achieve gender equality – for women and girls, but also for men and boys themselves. And often it was expressed that gender equality is for all genders – it is a matter of humanity.

    This report provides a summary on 1) the results of the CSW; 2) attention on working with men and boys on gender justice; and 3) events and joint advocacy activities by the MenEngage Alliance.

  • Scorecard on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) policies in Africa

    Scorecard on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) policies in Africa

    This scorecard provides an assessment of whether national policies from twelve African countries attempt to engage men and boys in the promotion of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). The countries are: the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.10 The Scorecard identifies various strengths and gaps within these countries’ SRHR policies with regards to their inclusion of language relating to the proactive and progressive engagement of men and boys.

    Furthermore, it offers recommendations for how such policies can increase the commitment and capacity of men and boys to play a proactive role in promoting SRHR. The scorecard is intended to be used by civil society, governments, policymakers as well as decision-makers working in the development of policy and legislation on SRHR. It aims to enable a better understanding on how to improve SRHR for all citizens, including the importance of engaging men and boys in the promotion of SRHR. It also offers an opportunity to address the gaps and priorities identified in existing policies. It can also be used to identify key areas and priorities for policy advocacy.

  • MenEngage Tri-Country Project Review

    MenEngage Tri-Country Project Review

    Gender-based violence (GBV) takes centre-stage in this project review, which draws on project activities for GBV prevention conducted by Sonke and MenEngage Africa’s partner organizations in Kenya, Rwanda and Sierra Leone, namely the Men Engage Kenya Network (MenKen), the Rwanda Men’s Resource Centre (RWAMREC) and the Men’s Association for Gender Equality – Sierra Leone (MAGE-SL).

    Both socio-economic and political factors influence gender relations. And while violent conflicts – such as Sierra Leone’s 10-year-long civil war or Rwanda’s ethnic genocide – affect entire communities, it is still important to highlight the plight of women as soft targets during such turbulent times. With this in mind, this project review is interspersed with the testimonies of ordinary men and women whose stories offer vivid insights into the dynamics of war and how it can exacerbate GBV.

    Another important consideration in looking at gender relations is the role of interventions which aim to engage individual men and communities, as well as those which forge strong inter-organizational connections between government bodies, nongovernmental organizations and, most importantly, communities and traditional leaders. Of particular interest here is the role played by traditional leaders in their communities, and therefore this review also features a number of sections focusing on how these figures have responded to interventions, whether proposed or implemented.

  • How to influence the development of the Post-2015 Development Agenda

    How to influence the development of the Post-2015 Development Agenda

    The eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were established in the year 2000, aimed to improve the life for the world’s poorest and the most vulnerable by the year 2015.

    The MDGs have been a milestone in global and national development priorities. In the past 13 years the world has seen great strides towards achieving these goals: global poverty continues to decline; more children (especially girls) than ever are attending primary school; child deaths have dropped dramatically; and targeted efforts in fighting malaria, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis have saved millions of lives.

    However, the prospects for achieving all of the eight MDGs differ severely across and within countries and regions and efforts to achieve a world of prosperity, equity, freedom, dignity and peace will need to continue after 2015. The international community has therefore initiated a process to start planning for a new development framework: the Post-2015 Development Agenda.

  • Gender Relations, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence and the Effects of Conflict on Women and Men in North Kivu, Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo

    Gender Relations, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence and the Effects of Conflict on Women and Men in North Kivu, Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo

    The International Men and Gender Equality Survey (IMAGES) — created and coordinated by Promundo and the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) — is one of the most comprehensive studies ever on men’s practices and attitudes as they relate to gender norms, attitudes toward gender equality policies, household dynamics including caregiving and men’s involvement as fathers, intimate partner violence, health and economic stress. As of 2013, it had been carried out in 10 countries (including this study in the Democratic Republic of the Congo) with additional partner studies in Asia inspired in part by IMAGES.

    The data provide insights on men’s use of violence against partners, participation in caregiving and men’s reactions to the global gender equality agenda, among other themes. The survey includes both women and men and is carried out with respondents aged 18 to 59. In keeping with World Health Organization recommendations for survey research about sexual and gender-based violence, the survey is carried out with men and women in the same communities but not in the same households. All ethical procedures are followed. The survey is carried out together with qualitative research to map masculinities, contextualize the survey results and provide detailed life histories that illuminate quantitative key findings. In the case of conflict and post-conflict settings, the IMAGES questionnaire includes additional questions on the effects of conflict and displacement on gender relations.

  • MATI Training Course Report 2014

    MATI Training Course Report 2014

    From the 24th of February to the 5th of March 2014, Sonke Gender Justice (Sonke), the MenEngage Africa Network (MEA), the Women’s Health and Research Unit at the University of Cape Town, Steps and Witness hosted the third MenEngage Africa Training Initiative (MATI) training entitled ‘Media, Film and Gender Advocacy Workshop’ in Cape Town, South Africa. The first two MATI training courses; ‘Masculinities, Leadership and Gender Justice’ brought together individuals from government, UN agencies and civil society to increase their capacity to lead gender justice programmes that engage men as partners and agents of change. These were hugely successful with over 800 applications for participation received for both overall. For its third iteration, Sonke and partners decided to adapt the programme in order to focus on other key influencers that tend to be overlooked in trainings and workshops designed to increase knowledge and skills on gender and human rights. Thus, in 2014, filmmakers were invited to learn more about gender, human rights and public health with a special focus on men’s roles and responsibilities in relation to these key areas, thus, breaking new ground for the MenEngage Africa Training Initiative.

    The main objective of the workshop was to facilitate the production of films for social change in the areas of gender justice, human rights and public health within the African continent in addition to increasing the skills and capacities of filmmakers working in the field of gender justice. A total of 26 amateur and professional filmmakers, media practitioners and activists from 12 African countries attended the workshop. Overall, participants found the workshop very useful. They received new information, the objectives were met and the workshop covered topics they wanted to know about.

  • Youth Perspectives of Work with Men and Boys

    Youth Perspectives of Work with Men and Boys

  • MenCare

    MenCare

    MenCare is a global campaign to promote men’s involvement as equitable, responsive and non-violent fathers and caregivers. It provides high quality community and mass media messages, technical assistance and training, policy and program recommendations and evidence to support local NGOs, women’s rights organizations, governments and UN partners in their efforts to engage men and boys in caregiving. This report provides tools in which to engage men and promote their participation as fathers and in caregiving.

  • Scorecard on Gender-Based Violence Policies in Conflict & Post-Conflict Settings in Africa

    Scorecard on Gender-Based Violence Policies in Conflict & Post-Conflict Settings in Africa

    This scorecard provides an assessment of whether national policies in conflict and post-conflict settings in the African region attempt to engage men and boys in the prevention and elimination of gender-based violence (GBV).ii This report analyses policies from nine African conflict or post-conflict states: Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Kenya, Liberia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda. The scorecard establishes whether countries have developed a National Action Plan (NAP) for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on women, peace and security; and identifies strengths and gaps within their UNSCR 1325 NAPs and national GBV policies with regards to their inclusion of language relating to the proactive and progressive engagement of men and boys. Furthermore, it offers recommendations for how such policies can increase the commitment and capacity of men and boys to play a proactive role in preventing and eliminating GBV.

  • Spotlight on Vasectomy Access and Uptake in South Africa

    Spotlight on Vasectomy Access and Uptake in South Africa

    This report represents exploratory consultative work in the area of vasectomy awareness, uptake and provision in South Africa and seeks to strengthen a regional discussion on shared contraceptive responsibility as a gender transformative approach.

    In response to the need to further explore vasectomy as a viable contraceptive option for South African men and their partners, Sonke Gender Justice (Sonke) in partnership with AIDS Accountability International (AAI), held two think thank meetings in May 2014 in Cape Town and Johannesburg to discuss and debate the national agenda on vasectomy. Participants consisted of service providers, research and advocacy networks and various stakeholders affiliated with the policy and practice of vasectomy. Both Sonke and AAI chose to follow an open plan approach to the consultation process in order to ensure that it had no pre-determined outcome. We assumed a largely facilitative role that in the end enabled the representatives of the various invited organisations to freely express their views and share their own experiences with regards to issues on vasectomy in South Africa and the work being done in the region.

  • Formative Research for MenEngage SRHR Initiative

    Formative Research for MenEngage SRHR Initiative

    The following report documents the feedback generated from 28 interviewed stakeholders including funders, researchers, policy specialists, directors, program officers, communication leads, technical advisors, evaluators, and consultants from a variety of regions to inform developments of and recommendations to the MenEngage SRHR Initiative. The stakeholders interviewed had a wealth of experience in SRHR, including in women’s SRHR and access. Expertise in the latter area was critical to privilege a feminist perspective of the initiative and to lay a foundation for meaningful partnership with women’s SRHR efforts. Stakeholders were purposefully recruited through the networks of Sonke, Promundo and MenEngage.

    The interviews assessed stakeholders’ opinions and thoughts about the themes, objectives and strategies of the initiative. Interviewees were also asked about the current status of engaging men in SRHR, if the initiative could support their work, the potential impact of the initiative, their awareness of other efforts engaging men in SRHR, strategic opportunities, and any challenges they foresaw the initiative facing.

    Overall, stakeholders strongly supported and valued the necessity of the initiative. There was much agreement that SRH services, policies and programs engaging men were limited and/or not inclusive of men wanting to be involved. There was general consensus of the need to integrate the initiative with efforts supporting and advocating for women’s SRHR, to promote gender equality by addressing harmful social and cultural norms, and engage with aspects of sexuality and masculinity. Using a human rights and positive sexuality framework, and foregrounding the initiative’s aim to improve men’s SRHR, would be useful to motivate men’s involvement.

  • Findings from a Gender Analysis for Microbicide Introduction in South Africa

    Findings from a Gender Analysis for Microbicide Introduction in South Africa

    HIV/AIDS disproportionately affects women and girls. Their increased vulnerability to HIV is driven in part by manifestations of gender inequality, including gender-based violence; norms that make negotiation and communication about sex difficult; assumptions that place the burden of care, including HIV prevention, on women; and women’s and girls’ lack of access to financial and other resources.

    Microbicides were conceived as a woman-initiated HIV prevention tool (see text at left for more information). If clinical trials find they are effective enough to be rolled out, microbicides will offer women an important and fundamentally different HIV prevention option – one that can be used without their partner’s knowledge, if they desire. However, even if a microbicide product becomes available, women will likely face many gender-related obstacles to microbicide access and adherence. To identify and prepare to address these obstacles, as well as any opportunities to promote women’s agency, Sonke Gender Justice and FHI 360 conducted a gender analysis for microbicide introduction in South Africa.

    The gender analysis, which took place in 2013, included a desktop review of microbicides research and HIV and gender-related policies and demographic information; interviews with stakeholders – including policymakers, funders, NGO representatives and health care providers; and an interpretation meeting with stakeholders. This brief shares the findings and discusses their implications.

  • MATI Training Course Report 2013

    MATI Training Course Report 2013

    The second ‘Masculinities, Leadership and Gender Justice Training Course’ which was held from 16-26 September 2013 at the University of Cape Town in South Africa, aimed at increasing the capacity of organisations and individuals in Sub-Saharan Africa to lead gender justice programmes that engage men as partners, clients and agents of change. Hosted by Sonke, the MenEngage Africa Network and the Women’s Health Research Unit of the University of Cape Town (UCT), it brought together 25 participants from 18 counties across Africa. Overall, participants found the training extremely useful. They received new information, the objectives were met and the training covered issues they wanted to know about. The training affected the knowledge, skills, attitudes and practices of the participants. As part of the post-course follow up, mentors and a virtual network were provided to all participants to offer them on-going professional guidance and support beyond the initial training.

  • Policy Report: Zimbabwe

    Policy Report: Zimbabwe

    This analysis has found that Zimbabwe’s policies and plans regarding HIV and AIDS offer comprehensive prevention strategies that combine uptake of condoms, roll out of medical male circumcision (MMC) as well as testing and treatment. However, these do not address the link between HIV and gender and the role that negative masculinities play in exacerbating its spread. The tendency to overlook the impact of gender norms in the area of HIV and AIDS can be found in policies dealing with gender-based violence (GBV) as well. GBV is seen as synonymous with women and thus, there is minimal discussion on men’s violent and aggressive behaviour which is often the root cause of GBV. On the other hand, legislation on sexual and reproductive health includes programming that directly targets men, calling them to change dangerous sexual practices such as having multiple sexual partners and under utilising condoms whilst also encouraging them to become involved in the maternal and neonatal health of partners and children. The same level of engagement with men can also be noted in policies related to parenting which encourage equal parenting between men and women. However, both SRHR and parenting policies do not fully discuss the role played by harmful gender norms or strongly emphasise the importance of male involvement. Another important omission is that the needs and concerns of LGBTI persons are not accounted for in laws and policies because homosexuality is illegal in Zimbabwe.

  • Policy Report: Ethiopia

    Policy Report: Ethiopia

    The analysis found that most policies and plans acknowledge that there is gender inequality between men and women in the Ethiopian society. For example, HIV and AIDS policies recognise that gender is a key driver of the pandemic and that women are more vulnerable to the disease than men. However, in most legislation, discussions on gender norms and roles are minimal and do not go into enough depth, especially on the impact of negative masculinities. This is most notable in the legal provisions dealing with gender-based violence. The only pieces of legislation that directly engage men are those dealing with sexual and reproductive health and parenting. Finally, marginalised men are minimally accounted for in policies, such as imprisoned men and men who have sex with men. In fact, because homosexuality is outlawed in Ethiopia, LGBTI people are left out of key legislation and are not able to access vital health services and other legal entitlements.

    This Policy Report has been developed to be used as an advocacy tool for civil society, policymakers and decision-makers to identify key areas for policy advocacy, and better understand and strengthen a focus on engaging men within laws and policies for gender equality.

  • Policy Report: Malawi

    Policy Report: Malawi

    Legislation in Malawi generally seeks to transform negative gender norms and relations in society. In the area of HIV and AIDS, policies note that gender relations exacerbate its spread and adversely affect mortality rates. Policies on sexual and reproductive health articulate how gender differences impact on access to, and uptake of, testing, treatment and preventative health services. However, this commitment to gender transformation is not mirrored in policies dealing with parenting and gender-based violence (GBV) respectively. For example, parenting policies reinforce the idea that it is a mother’s duty to care for and nurture children while fathers need only provide materially and financially. Furthermore, the potential role men can play in the prevention of GBV is overlooked and there are no provisions encouraging men to work as advocates for change in terms of challenging GBV in their communities.

    This Policy Report has been developed to be used as an advocacy tool for civil society, policymakers and decision-makers to identify key areas for policy advocacy, and better understand and strengthen a focus on engaging men within laws and policies for gender equality.

  • Policy Report: DRC

    Policy Report: DRC

    This analysis found that the DRC has made efforts in terms of engaging men and boys, but should include a stronger emphasis on influencing gender norms. While the sexual and reproductive health policies are engaging with men as clients, they are weak in engaging them as advocates for change. Specific steps need to be taken to directly target men, especially in relation to parenting and encouraging men to be role models. Where applicable, strategies aiming to address underlying causes, including gender norms and the engagement of men should be specified. Marginalised men particularly need to be properly engaged within all relevant policies and the violence men experience should also be acknowledged and accounted for.

    This Policy Report has been developed to be used as an advocacy tool for civil society, policymakers and decision-makers to identify key areas for policy advocacy, and better understand and strengthen a focus on engaging men within laws and policies for gender equality.

  • Policy Report: Tanzania

    Policy Report: Tanzania

    Few of Tanzania’s HIV policies promote and seek to operationalise gender transformative work to address men’s sexual practices and uptake of testing and treatment services. Gender-based violence (GBV) policies and legislation also pay scant attention to the potential role men can play in providing support to victims of GBV and preventing acts of GBV in their communities. While policies on sexual and reproductive health and rights acknowledge the need for improved male-centred health services and spaces for men to be more involved in the neonatal and maternal health of their partners and children, there are no plans in place to actualise these aims. Tanzanian policies that relate to parenting reinforce the role of mothers as caregivers and fathers as financial providers, rather than encouraging gender-equal parenting in all areas. Finally, owing to same-sex relations being illegal in Tanzania, the needs and concerns of LGBTI persons are not accounted for in laws and policies.

    This Policy Report has been developed to be used as an advocacy tool for civil society, policymakers and decision-makers to identify key areas for policy advocacy, and better understand and strengthen a focus on engaging men within laws and policies for gender equality.

  • Policy Report: Namibia

    Policy Report: Namibia

    The analysis, carried out in 2012, found that while gender inequality is acknowledged within Namibia’s National Strategic Framework for HIV and AIDS, it is not afforded sufficient consideration and there is almost no planned interaction with men. Namibia’s GBV and parenting policies contain several strategies for engaging men and the sexual and reproductive health policies are both strategic and progressive in terms of behaviour changing interventions being combined with women’s empowerment programmes. However, concrete Information, Education, Communication (IEC) strategies or male-targeted service provision have unfortunately not yet been developed and because homosexuality is outlawed in Namibia the LGBTI population is left out of key pieces of legislation.

    This Policy Report has been developed to be used as an advocacy tool for civil society, policymakers and decision-makers to identify key areas for policy advocacy, and better understand and strengthen a focus on engaging men within laws and policies for gender equality.

  • Policy Report: Zambia

    Policy Report: Zambia

    The analysis found that Zambia’s National AIDS Strategic Framework effectively identifies that men need to be engaged around issues related to HIV, but could go further in terms of articulating how such a goal should be achieved. Zambia’s National Action Plan on Gender-Based Violence adequately highlights the need to engage with men, but is less adequately supported by Zambian legislation. While Zambian sexual and reproductive health (SRH) policies attempt to emphasise men’s SRH needs, they do not adequately engage with men as partners able to support women’s SRH, and do not address the need to transform gender norms related to health seeking behaviour. The Zambian Draft Constitution shows the potential to precipitate a more gender-equal approach to parenting, which as yet is not evident in Zambian policy and law.

    This Policy Report has been developed to be used as an advocacy tool for civil society, policymakers and decision-makers to identify key areas for policy advocacy, and better understand and strengthen a focus on engaging men within laws and policies for gender equality.

  • Detailed Policy Report for Zambia

    Detailed Policy Report for Zambia

    The analysis found that Zambia’s National AIDS Strategic Framework effectively identifies that men need to be engaged around issues related to HIV, but could go further in terms of articulating how such a goal should be achieved. Zambia’s National Action Plan on Gender-Based Violence adequately highlights the need to engage with men, but is less adequately supported by Zambian legislation. While Zambian sexual and reproductive health (SRH) policies attempt to emphasise men’s SRH needs, they do not adequately engage with men as partners able to support women’s SRH, and do not address the need to transform gender norms related to health seeking behaviour. The Zambian Draft Constitution shows the potential to precipitate a more gender-equal approach to parenting, which as yet is not evident in Zambian policy and law.