Archives: Publications
Emerging effects of COVID-19 pandemic on gender-based violence in Africa
The emergence of Covid-19 has significantly contributed to the increase in gender-based violence in many societies. This study investigates the trends of this violence in Cameroon, Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa. The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) affected individuals and communities in a variety of ways. Within a couple of months, …
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Peace and Security Terms of Reference
Sonke is looking for a consultant to conduct desk-top policy research and analysis on Peace and Security related policies across 15 countries in Africa. Please find the terms of reference herein.
A Policy Brief on the Impact of the Global Gag Rule and COVID-19 on SRHR Services in Africa
Introduction Sonke Gender Justice, with the support from CHANGE, commissioned a policy brief to explore the impact the Global Gag Rule, and COVID-19 on SRHR services in Africa. Owing to the compounded effects of the Global Gag Rule (GGR) and the COVID-19 pandemic, strained and fragile health systems in Sub- of Saharan African countries are …
A MenEngage Africa Toolkit for Engaging Men and Boys to Advocate for the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation
The overall goal of the FGM toolkit is to inform MenEngage Africa partners and other similar minded stakeholders on how to engage men and boys to advocate for an end to FGM. It is intended to create awareness on how to engage with men and boys in their diversities as they implement campaigns on ending …
Sonke Gender Justice Strategic Plan: 2020-2024
In the past year, Sonke Gender Justice (Sonke) has undertaken a journey of self-reflection. We assessed our performance against our Strategic Plan 2014-2019, during which time we commemorated our 10th year anniversary. We sought to examine our priorities for the next five years. In doing so we reflected on our strengths and challenges that emerged …
Submissions with respect to the Criminal Law Sexual Offences & Related Matters Act Amendment Bill [B 16-2020]
The South African Constitution has been regarded as one of the most progressive constitutions in the world. The esteemed Ruth Bader Ginsburg during her tenure as a US Supreme Court Justice is on record for having said, “That was a deliberate attempt to have a fundamental instrument of government that embraced basic human rights, had …
Engaging South African fathers with programme interventions and policies
Families, parents and caregivers play a vital role in child well-being and development. The family, for example, plays the primary socialisation role in establishing a child’s identity. It is the family that also provides children with love, care, provision and protection. Having said this, while families can be the greatest source of support for children; …
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Breaking the Cycle of Intergenerational Violence
Exposure to violence in childhood can have severe physical, emotional, and mental health consequences and is intimately linked with the likelihood of perpetrating or experiencing intimate partner violence in adulthood. This process whereby violence in childhood is linked to violence in adulthood can be disrupted if children and adolescents are provided with quality, targeted interventions …
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Dealing with the Challenges of Liquor at Community Level
The World Health Organisation (WHO) 2018 Global Report on Alcohol and Health says that, in South Africa, 38.3% of men above 15 years old have never drunk liquor. It also says that 18.5% used to drink, but have now stopped. This means that, in South Africa, 56.8% of men above 15 years old don’t drink. …
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MenEngage Africa Strategy to Strengthen Youth Advocacy for Comprehensive Sexuality Education and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
This Youth SRHR Strategy is aligned with the MenEngage Africa Strategic Plan 2019-2023. It has also been developed in line with the Maputo Plan of Action 2016-2030 for the Operationalisation of the Continental Policy Framework for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, and the Southern African Development Community’s Strategy for Sexual and Reproductive Health and …
MenCare in Africa Media Kit
This Media Kit seeks to promote men as caregivers and fathers, through media campaigns, educational programmes and advocacy initiatives. Different campaigns tell the stories of men who challenge stereotypes to become more involved care-givers for their children. Other initiatives engage policy makers to legislate paid leave for new parents. Media is a powerful tool to …
Engaging Men in GBV and HIV prevention, SRHR promotion and parenting
This report explores the strength and weakness of selected relevant policies, laws and plans in terms of engaging men and boys; and provides recommendations for how such policies can improve the way in which they include men and boys, account for their needs, enable them to support their partners, children and peers and facilitate their …
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Case Monitoring Guide for Community Activists
This guide is in response to a growing worry around the failure of the South African criminal justice system. Complaints include the police’s lack of urgency or respect when charging people, the overlong delays in court cases and the victim’s input throughout the legal process.
Submissions with respect to the call for public comment on the Gauteng Com Oversightbill
This submission analyses the Community Safety Bill considering the White Paper on Safety and Security (White Paper) endorsed by Cabinet in April 2016. The White Paper provides a strategic policy level and integrated approach for community safety, crime prevention and addressing violence in accordance with the National Development Plan’s objective of “Building Safer Communities”. The …
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Asijiki Coalition: Sex Work and Covid-19 Webinar
This is a report of the webinar hosted by the Asijiki Coalition on the 8th July 2020. The webinar explored the impact of COVID-19 on the lives of sex workers and the continued unlawful policing of sex work, as well as recent policy developments that support the continued call for the decriminalisation of sex work …
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RE: Civil Union Amendment Bill B11b of 2018
Open letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa regarding the Civil Union Amendment Bill B11b of 2018.
Submissions with respect to the Prescription in Civil and Criminal Matters (Sexual Offences) Amendment Bill [B 22b-2019]
The Constitutional Court’s decision in Levenstein and Others v Estate of the Late Sidney Lewis Frankel and Others 2018 ZACC 16 placed an onus on Parliament to enact remedial legislation within 24 months that would bring into effect its ruling on the unconstitutionality of Section 18 of the Criminal Procedure Amendment Act of 1977. Section …
Eastern Cape Liquor Board Complaint Report
This report aims to highlight an aspect of Sonke Gender Justice’s work within its local government accountability (LGA) project in the Eastern Cape province. Our complaint with the Eastern Cape Liquor Board (ECLB) is rooted in Sonke’s mandate of ensuring access to justice and information for all who reside in South Africa. Too often, we …
Joint Submission on COVID-19 and the Increase of Domestic Violence Against Women
Sonke Gender Justice, The Foundation for Human Rights (FHR) and Mosaic Training Service and Healing Centre would like to thank the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, Ms. Dubravka Šimonović, for the opportunity to submit inputs on the increase of gender-based violence against women and domestic violence in the context of …
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Submissions on the Draft National Youth Policy 2020-2030
Sonke Gender Justice (Sonke) is a non-partisan, non-profit organization, established in 2006. Today, Sonke has established a growing presence on the African continent and plays an active role internationally. Sonke works to create the change necessary for men, womxn, young people and children to enjoy equitable, healthy and happy relationships that contribute to the development …
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Towards harm reduction programmes with sex worker clients in South Africa
This report explores possible harm reduction approaches to a sex worker client intervention in the South African context. It considers the current evidence base on client interventions globally and sets out key recommendations for an effective client intervention programme. Drawing on this framework and recommendations, the report concludes with an example of a curriculum which …
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Submission to the Department of Justice and Correctional Services regarding the Criminal Matters Amendment Draft Bill, 2020
The Detention Justice Forum (‘DJF’) is a civil society coalition of non-governmental organisations and individuals working to ensure that the rights and well-being of those who are detained are respected and upheld, as enshrined under the South African Constitution, laws, and regional and international human rights norms and standards. Our membership includes community organisations, lawyers, …
Desiderata for gender parity
This paper looks at 26 selected companies in Nigeria and explores factors responsible for women’s under-representation at leadership level of these organisations. It also recommends appropriate action to remedy the lack of women leadership.