Sonke to co-host the MenEngage Africa SRHR symposium in Mombasa, Kenya

Sonke Gender Justice and MenEngage Africa are thrilled to announce the third edition of the MenEngage Africa SRHR Learning and Exchange Symposium: PROGRESS26, set to take place in Mombasa, Kenya, from the 12th to the 14th of August 2026.  The symposium will be held under the theme: “Reclaiming Autonomy: Advancing Sexual and Reproductive Justice in the Face of Resistance”

Sonke at Women Deliver 2026 conference

In April 2026, Sonke Gender Justice participated in Women Deliver 2026 in Melbourne, Australia, where over 6,000 delegates gathered to advance gender justice and SRHR in the face of growing global challenges.

Sonke co-hosted a session on disability-inclusive SRHR with partners, highlighting the barriers young people with disabilities face in accessing healthcare, information, and decision-making spaces. The session used an interactive format to encourage dialogue and practical solutions, calling for stronger collaboration between disability rights and SRHR movements in the Global South. Participants are also committed to advancing inclusion in their work beyond the conference.

Stakeholders push for reform of South Africa’s GBVF Council Act

On April 22, 2026, civil society organisations, city officials, legal experts, and community advocates gathered at the Birchwood Hotel in Johannesburg for a high-level workshop aimed at discussing a policy framework to address one of South Africa’s most urgent crises: Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF).

Convened by Sonke Gender Justice in partnership with UN Women and the Embassy of Ireland in South Africa, the workshop brought together approximately 70 stakeholders under the theme ‘National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Act: Charting the Path to Reform’. 

Strengthening accountability and justice responses to GBVF in Bushbuckridge

In Bushbuckridge, gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) continues to affect the daily lives of many women and girls. Abuse, exploitation, poverty and harmful gender norms remain major drivers, making local action urgent.

With support from the Embassy of Ireland, Sonke Gender Justice is working with community leaders to embed GBVF priorities into the very structures that govern local life, from municipal planning to justice processes. In March 2026, Sonke brought together community leaders for a two-day training on the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NSP-GBVF) and Integrated Development Planning (IDP), equipping them to advocate for stronger action where decisions are actually made.

Insights ahead of PROGRESS 26

As we gear up for #PROGRESS2026, the Sonke Gender Justice team reflects on the powerful lessons from #PROGRESS2024 and looks ahead to what promises to be a transformative gathering.
Watch the video now to discover what’s in store and why this year’s symposium is set to be a milestone moment

National Council on Gender-Based Violence Workshop

Gender-Based Violence and Femicide remains one of the most urgent threats to South Africa’s democratic promise. In this stakeholder dialogue, convened by Sonke Gender Justice, leaders from the UN, government, and civil society participated.

Is there anything for African women to celebrate this International Women’s Day? 

Every year on International Women’s Day, we are encouraged to celebrate the progress. We are shown charts, slogans, and carefully worded speeches that suggest that the arc of history is bending in the right direction.
For many African women, this message feels increasingly out of touch