Sonke Gender Justice

Category: Uncategorized

  • Sexual Offences Act Implementation

    Sexual Offences Act Implementation

    As part of its civil society advocacy initiatives, Sonke has worked alongside the Shukumisa Campaign to improve the implementation of the Sexual Offences Act. Despite South Africa’s progressive legislation, it remains very difficult to obtain justice for sexual offences. Good laws alone are not enough: they must be combined with strong advocacy if they are to change practice.

    Sexual offences laws in South Africa were updated in 2007. The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Amendment Act 32 of 2007 (SOA) consolidated all sexual crimes in one law, defined sexual crimes gender-neutrally to apply to both men and women, and ensured rape survivors access to post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), among other provisions. Despite this promising reform, the implementation of the SOA uneven around the country. The government has been slow to produce implementing policy, with the Draft National Policy Framework just produced this year.

    Shukumisa, which means to “shake things up” in isiXhosa, is promoting a South Africa where everybody treats rape as a serious crime – a country where quality health, policing and legal services are available to all rape survivors nationwide.

    The Shukumisa Campaign actively monitors police stations, courthouses, and hospitals to determine what services are in place for rape victims, as required by the SOA and its implementing policies. After each round of monitoring, Shukumisa compiles the results of its monitoring into reports which it submits to the South African Police Service (SAPS), the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development and the Department of Health.

    Shukumisa currently also seeks to re-open the comments process for the recently produced Draft National Policy Framework on Sexual Offences. In its current iteration the Draft Framework does not adequately incorporate procedures to empower rape survivors throughout the complaints, treatment, and prosecution processes. More specifically, it does not adequately incorporate a role for civil society in ensuring the progressive realisation of services for rape survivors.

    Research on the Implementation of the Sexual Offences Act

    Sonke undertook to monitor 50 South African Police Services stations throughout the Western Cape. This quantitative research project assesses the baseline compliance level of SAPS’ constitutional duties to provide support for rape victims.

    The findings have been analysed for notable patterns, such as patterns appearing in rural, urban and peri-urban locations, analysed by communities’ income brackets and by crime prevalence in each location. This research is being submitted to peer-reviewed journals for publication and will subsequently be shared in reports.

    This research was enabled by a fellowship granted to Sonke’s PAR Specialist, Emily Keehn, from the UCGHI Women’s Health & Empowerment Center of Expertise, with funding from the U.S. National Institutes of Health, Fogarty International Center.

  • OMC Klipfontein Health Project

    OMC Klipfontein Health Project

    Sonke has been funded by the Western Cape Department of Health to raise awareness and promote health services to men in the Klipfontein district. This includes raising awareness about HIV and AIDS and the related services available in the area, such as counselling and testing.

    In early 2012, Sonke launched a new satellite office in Gugulethu, a Men’s Wellness Centre, where men will be able to get information and advice about health issues, including access to a clinic sister. The satellite office is conveniently situated close to the Gugulethu clinic.

    The team are also raising awareness about medical male circumcision (MMC) and encouraging men to undergo circumcision as a means of reducing the risk of contracting HIV. MMC education includes discussions about the potential gender implications of MMC and emphasises that men who are circumcised still need to practice safe sex.

    During their visits to clinics, schools, places of worship and other civil society organisations in the communities, the Sonke staff distribute male and female condoms, as well as various educational materials.

    Once a week, staff members participate in a two hour radio talk show where issues relevant to the community are discussed on Radio Zibonele.

    The Klipfontein team also recruit and train peer educators in the community and setup Community Action Teams to support the groups’ ongoing work in the area.

  • OMC Access to Justice Project

    OMC Access to Justice Project

    Sonke and the Thoyandou Victim Empowerment Programme have partnered to support victim empowerment in Limpopo province, and especially to include men and boys in advocacy and support initiatives.

    The project is supported by Irish Aid.

  • Fatherhood

    Fatherhood

    This project celebrates men who care by profiling South African fathers in the local media. My Dad Can forms part of the international MenCare campaign being spearheaded by MenEngage. It is a national media drive to identify positive local role models and profile them in the media as examples of good, involved fathers, funded by First National Bank and First for Women.

    Through the media campaign, radio listeners and print media readers will learn about the day-to-day experiences of these everyday heroes, as well as learning about why involved fatherhood is so important and what the benefits of involved fatherhood are for fathers, mothers and children.

    The idea is to change the important things a dad can do from just being strong or violent to being caring and supportive. ‘My dad can lift a car!’ moves to ‘My dad can cook!’

    Starting in mid-2011, the first leg of the campaign will take place up until the end of 2011. This will include the first round of nominations, selection and media profiling of local fathers. Activities will involve a series of radio Public Service Announcements through partner radio stations across 10 sites and posters will encourage children to nominate their fathers, and write up a brief essay on why they think their dad, or the man that cares for them, should be recognized.

    In 2012, a second round of nominations, selection and media profiling will take place in another 10 communities. In June 2012, on or close to Father’s day, a fatherhood celebration will be held in Johannesburg. The 20 local heroes profiled in the media during the previous year will be flown to Johannesburg with their families to participate in a high profile gala event. The fathers who have inspired others in their communities will be celebrated. The idea is for this to become an annual event, held on Fathers’ Day.

    Nominations can be submitted electronically or physically (with forms and collection points at select FNB branches.

    Fatherhood

  • HIV digital stories

    HIV digital stories

    Crucial to the success of Sonke’s work is ensuring a central role for those most directly affected by violence and HIV. A platform is required for their voices to inform our efforts and be represented across Sonke activities.

    We all have stories to tell about our lives. Through sharing and listening to such stories, we come to know each other, our communities, our world, and ourselves. Stories can inspire us, educate us, and move us deeply. As a result of being touched by someone else’s story, we make connections between their circumstances and our own. When it comes to confronting complex social issues, these connections can help us to bridge the vast differences that often divide us and instead act with wisdom, compassion, and conscience.

    Sonke Gender Justice and the Silence Speaks digital storytelling initiative enabled young people and adults affected by violence and HIV and AIDS to share their stories. From cities to rural villages, the project offers participants a rare opportunity to talk about their own experiences and bear witness to the lives of others, in a supportive setting. Through intensive, participatory video production workshops, we are bringing rarely-heard voices and images into the civic arena. Our hope is that by highlighting everyday stories, we will deepen existing conversations about gender norms and the spread of these twin epidemics.

  • One Man Can Toolkit

    One Man Can Toolkit

    Launched in November 2006, the One Man Can Campaign supports men and boys to take action to end domestic and sexual violence and to promote healthy, equitable relationships that men and women can enjoy – passionately, respectfully and fully.

    The Campaign

    The campaign promotes the idea that each one of us has a role to play, that each one of us can create a better, more equitable and more just world. At the same time, the campaign encourages men to work together with other men and with women to take action – to build a movement, to demand justice, to claim our rights and to change the world.

    The Toolkit

    The toolkit is a set of resources that support men and boys to take action to end domestic and sexual violence and to promote healthy, equitable relationships that men and women can enjoy – passionately, respectfully and fully.

    You can download the components of the toolkit here:

    Case Studies

    We have developed a number of case studies exploring how One Man Can works, including:

  • OMC Prisons Project

    OMC Prisons Project

    The Prisons project works with prisoners in the Western Cape on issues of health, offering training, hosting events and collaborates with the provincial Department of Correctional Services.

    Prisons across the country are host to distressingly high numbers of HIV-infected people, and corruption of prison officials, violence, gangs and rape are rife in correctional facilities. It is well-known that the rate of recidivism is high and that prison sentences do not do much in the way of correcting the behaviour of the convicted, and often worsen the condition of ex-prisoners’ lives. For these reasons and more, Sonke decided to implement a project that focuses explicitly on improving the health-seeking behaviours of prisoners in local correctional facilities. The project is a couple of years old now, and has expanded to work with both male and female inmates in 12 prisons.

    Both inmates and correctional officers are trained as peer educators to act as leaders within their prison community, providing support, education and an example of healthy living to their counterparts. Health areas covered by the project include education on anal and cervical cancer, TB, diarrhoea, contraception, and sexually transmitted infections. All peer educator groups are continually supported by Sonke’s prisons team, who run frequent follow-up workshops. One focus of the project is to reduce HIV infection rate through HCT and Treatment Adherence programmes.

  • OMC Refugee Health and Rights Project

    OMC Refugee Health and Rights Project

    Sonke’s work with refugees and migrants focuses on addressing the specific gender and HIV vulnerabilities of refugees and migrants, on challenging xenophobia and the frequent violations of rights faced by refugees and migrants and on advocating for access to vital health and social services. Currently Sonke implements the Refugee Health and Rights Programme in Johannesburg and Cape Town.

    The work includes conducting HIV prevention and gender workshops with groups of refugees while also discussing issues pertaining to refugee rights. We also distribute male and female condoms to refugees and share HIV prevention messages at Department of Home Affairs premises, in appropriate languages.

    The RHR team also conducts workshops and activities in schools. Sonke has been supported in its work with refugees by UNHCR, Foundation for Human Rights and UNFPA.

    OMC Refugee Health and Rights Project

    OMC Refugee Health and Rights Project

    OMC Refugee Health and Rights Project

  • OMC Medical Male Circumcision Project

    OMC Medical Male Circumcision Project

    Sonke strongly supports medical male circumcision (MMC) as a measure for preventing HIV transmission. This position is informed by the increasing body of evidence which shows that MMC can reduce the changes of infection by as much as 60%. With this in mind, Sonke has recently launch a small project to promote MMC amongst urban young men in South Africa. The project is being carried out in partnership with Artists Proof Studios (APS).

    The Sonke team are working with the APS students to develop a series of messages and imagery to use to promote MMC. A range of creative channels are being explored to distribute these messages, including comic strips, social media, radio and television. Face-to-face interactions with young men are also taking place at clinics and schools, and in the form of community dialogues.

    The project is funded by the South African Development Fund.

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  • Impact of Work with Men and Boys

    Impact of Work with Men and Boys

    In addition to a growing international evidence base which shows that well implemented work with men and boys can effectively address issues of gender inequality, independently conducted research continues to provide strong evidence of the OMC campaign’s effectiveness.

    This research includes a study by the World Health Organisation entitled Engaging men and boys in changing gender-based inequity in health: Evidence from programme interventions (2010) in which the researchers assess a large number of programmes working with men and boys around the world. They found (amongst other things) that “well-designed programmes with men and boys show compelling evidence of leading to change in behaviour and attitudes.”

    Does Sonke’s Work Make a Difference?

    Research conducted in 2009 by Chris Colvin indicated significant changes in short-term behaviour in the weeks following OMC activities: 25% of respondents had accessed voluntary counselling and testing, 50% reported an act of gender based violence, 61% increased their use of condoms, and over 80% talked to friends or family members about HIV, gender and human rights issues.

    New (and as yet unpublished) research undertaken by Shari Dworkin and colleagues shows further clear evidence that men participating in OMC programmes adjust their attitudes and behaviours in line with OMC’s objectives.

    This new qualitative research assessed OMC participants’ changes in masculine ideologies and health beliefs and behaviours. The study was undertaken in two provinces, Limpopo and Eastern Cape, and the researchers conducted in-depth interviews with 60 OMC participants. Questions covered issues of gender relations and women’s rights, violence, relationships and sex, masculinity, fatherhood, gender and HIV risks, HIV prevention and testing, and community action teams (CATs).

    The research clearly shows that men who have participated in OMC activities afterwards embrace trends towards equality for women, understand their male identity differently and are more involved in household labour and child care.

    “A lot has changed, like I said. My childhood observations of a man as boss was wrong and before I attended OMC sessions; I continued to believe that it is the same wrong things that need to be done. But after some sessions and engagement in discussions with various people with various points of view, I then realised that it is wrong to treat women like they do not exist.”

    The clearest impact of OMC participation has been on reductions in alcohol use, with a third of men reporting that they had reduced their alcohol consumption and changed their alcohol related behaviours.

    “Since I became involved with OMC, I am able to go for a month without having a single drink of alcohol. Now I respect my girlfriend and if I have to go and see her, I make sure that I go in a sober state and I also respect her wishes if she wants us to use protection during sex.”

    The research also shows a links between OMC and increased HIV testing, increased condom use, reduction in the number of partners, increase in intervention in situations of violence between men and women.

  • Community Mobilisation – Bushbuckridge

    Community Mobilisation – Bushbuckridge

    Until 2014, Dumisani Rebombo is running the One Man Can (OMC) project at our new satellite office in Bushbuckridge, Limpopo. The project forms part of a four-year randomised control trial being undertaken by Wits, UCSF and UNC and seeks to show how Sonke’s OMC community mobilisation model can reduce the levels of violence in these communities and ultimately reduce the levels of HIV infection amongst young women.

    Bushbuckridge Local Municipality (LM), in the central lowveld, plays host to Wits Rural Facility (WRF), not far from the Kruger National Park. The WRF performs a wide range of community service activities, including training, legal support, lobbying for better infrastructure, and organisation. Its service, research and teaching activities are aimed at improving the lives of people in the Bushbuckridge area and including issues relevant to the lives of rural people on research and teaching agendas in South Africa. This makes Bushbuckridge LM an ideal community to work with, as there are facilities and a basic structure from which to operate. The project is currently in its initial phase, and is set to expand in the near future.

    The community comprises 25 villages, but OMC activities will be implemented with young people in only 11 of them. All 25 villages will be monitored for incidences of gender-based violence including rape, HIV prevalence, health-seeking behaviours including self-reported habits of condom use, and more. This will provide empirical evidence of OMC’s effect on behaviour change and its impact within communities by comparing statistics between the trial and control groups.

    The goals of the project are to equip and motivate community members both to prevent HIV, gender inequality and gender-based violence, and to intervene when they identify violence in their communities. Because the specific needs and social structures of each community differ from place to place, mobilisers and Community Action Teams undergo training and education in navigating these structures to most effectively and sensitively implement the campaign in their areas. Ongoing training provides CAT members with a wide range of relevant skills and knowledge, including reporting, networking, health education, refugee and migrants’ rights and advocacy on local platforms.

  • OMC Soccer Project

    OMC Soccer Project

    As part of our commitment to strengthening the capacity of partner organisations, Sonke is working closely with three organisations in the Soweto and Alexandra townships of Johannesburg to host a series of soccer tournaments that are accompanied by Sonke trainings. The aims of this work are to increase their skills and scope in working with men and boys on gender equality and HIV and AIDS. The project is funded by Oxfam GB and has been running since 2007.

    Sonke is currently (2011/2012) running a Street Soccer tournament with each organisation. Training programme have been developed for working with the participating soccer teams. At least seven teams of seven players take part, and the public receive educational and awareness materials at the event. Influential figures, health care providers, community leaders and others are invited to attend the tournaments and address the players and the public on a variety of issues.

    Over the period, we work with the partners to coordinate events and other smaller projects like mural painting, building their capacity to independently undertake such projects in the future.

  • One Man Can in Bushbuckridge

    One Man Can in Bushbuckridge

    Sonke’s One Man Can (OMC) project in Bushbuckridge (BBR), Mpumalanga, forms part of a three-year randomised control trial (RCT) undertaken by Sonke, the University of Witwatersrand, the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)’s Centre for AIDS Prevention Studies, and the University of North Carolina (UNC), in order to evaluate the extent to which Sonke’s OMC community mobilisation (CM) model can reduce levels of violence and ultimately reduce the levels of HIV infection amongst young women.

    Male-focused community social mobilisation efforts that aim to create safer spaces for young women have not yet been rigorously evaluated. This groundbreaking study is providing an opportunity to examine the process and effects of a CM intervention focused on young men (aged 18-35), while also providing an opportunity to examine the effects of the mobilisation intervention in general.

    For this evaluation, half of the communities (11) were randomised to receive the community mobilisation interventions, while the 11 other communities are serving as comparison communities. Community mobilisation activities include workshops, door-to-door campaigns, soccer matches, street theatre, murals, video screenings, discussions led by a trained team of community mobilisers and volunteers, and a vibrant Community Action Team (CAT) model.

    The primary objectives of the project are as follows:

    • To determine whether young people, aged 18-35, living in villages that are randomised to a mobilisation intervention focused on young men, demonstrate positive changes in gender norms compared with young people living in villages that are not randomised to mobilisation.
    • To determine whether young women who are randomised to receive cash transfers, conditional on school attendance, and who live in villages that are receiving the mobilisation intervention targeting young men to change gender norms, have a lower incidence of HIV and HSV-2 (Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2) over time, compared with young women who are not receiving either of these interventions.

    On average, the project has been reaching and educating over 48,000 people per year with OMC campaign interventions since it started in 2012. A baseline survey was conducted in 2012 and the end-line survey began at the end of 2014. The results of this RCT will be finalised between July and August 2015.

  • Tsima – Treatment as Prevention

    Tsima – Treatment as Prevention

    Tsima is a three-year community mobilisation intervention and research trial that Sonke is implementing in eight villages of the Bushbuckridge area in the Mpumalanga province.

    Tsima traditionally means working together to plow a field. We use it here to signify working together for the community good. Tsima ra rihanyu means working together for health.

    As the implementing agent, Sonke has partnered with the University of the Witwatersrand, the University of California – San Francisco, the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill and Right to Care to complete the research component of the project.

    The main goal of the project is to mobilise communities to learn and understand that HIV treatment is also a form of HIV prevention. Scientific research has shown that in partners who are sero-discordant, that is, where one is HIV-positive and the other does not have HIV, it is very unlikely that the infected partner can transmit infection to the uninfected one. This is because if the infected partner is on antiretroviral treatment and adheres to it, the medicines can suppress the HI-Virus to very low or undetectable levels, thus reducing or eliminating the risk of transmission.

    Download the full Tsima Handbook here.

    Tsima Booklets

    Public Service Announcements (PSAs) to promote the Tsima project


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    Tsima Project PSA 1 – Dumi & Mobilisers

    This is the first in a series of five PSAs promoting the Tsima project, which is being implemented in the Bushbuckridge area in the province of Mpumalanga. The main goal of the project is to mobilise communities to learn and understand that HIV treatme …



    Tsima-PDA-2

    Tsima Project PSA 2 – Nurse Lazarus

    This is the second in a series of PSAs promoting the Tsima project, which is being implemented in the Bushbuckridge area in the province of Mpumalanga. The main goal of the project is to mobilise communities to learn and understand that HIV treatment i …



    Tsima-PDA-3

    Tsima Project PSA 3 – Induna Mayinga

    This is the third in a series of PSAs promoting the Tsima project, which is being implemented in the Bushbuckridge area in the province of Mpumalanga. The main goal of the project is to mobilise communities to learn and understand that HIV treatment is …



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    Tsima Project PSA 4 – Temby & Arthur

    This is the fourth in a series of PSAs promoting the Tsima project, which is being implemented in the Bushbuckridge area in the province of Mpumalanga. The main goal of the project is to mobilise communities to learn and understand that HIV treatment i …



    Tsima-PDA-5

    Tsima Project PSA 5 – Compilation of previous PSAs

    This is the last in a series of PSAs promoting the Tsima project, which is being implemented in the Bushbuckridge area in the province of Mpumalanga. The main goal of the project is to mobilise communities to learn and understand that HIV treatment is …


    Tsima short videos

    These videos are actual stories of change whose purpose is to show the benefits of testing for HIV, taking treatment and adhering to it in order to ensure a healthy and long life.


    Tsima-Rhulanis-journey

    Tsima Project – Rhulani’s journey with HIV

    Rhulani has been living with HIV for the past 11 years. In this short video, she says she wouldn’t have been alive today had it not been for accepting her HIV-positive status and taking and adhering to treatment the way she has been advised at her loca …



    Tsima-Mphos-journey

    Tsima Project – Mpho’s journey with HIV

    Mpho tested positive for HIV in 2002 and he started taking antiretroviral treatment in 2005 when his infection intensified. Taking antiretrovirals has improved his health significantly. Today, Mpho encourages people in his community to test for HIV. He …


    Tsima Posters

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    Tsima Poster in English
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    Tsima poster in Shangaan
  • Court Monitoring

    Court Monitoring

    As a result of Sonke’s numerous interventions and community engagements, and by virtue of its wide media appeal and commentary on topical issues as an NGO authority in the field of gender equality, HIV/AIDS and Human Rights, cases of gender-based violence and discrimination are often referred to Sonke by community members in the course of our trainers conducting workshops or community dialogues, e.g. the alleged rape and subsequent murder of a young gay male in the Ceres community in the Western Cape.

    It is, therefore, prudent for Sonke to address these instances of violence and engage with the concerned community members, local stakeholders, the criminal justice system and the family of the victims to ensure that justice is served swiftly and without any undue delays.

    Sonke, therefore, as per the instances referred above, embarks on lengthy court monitoring initiatives to:

    • Monitor court proceedings.
    • Create community activism and awareness around the issue at hand.
    • Educate the community and the officials tasked with delivering the service (courts, police officials and health institutions) of their responsibilities and duties highlighted in policy documents, legislation and regulations, i.e., Victim Empowerment Programme, National Instructions, and Standard Operating Procedures to name a few.

    This is done with the aim of measuring, assessing and verifying the effectiveness and adequacy of the service rendered to the public by the court structure. These initiatives are vital to Sonke’s continued work around community mobilisation, policy development, advocacy strategies and research opportunities and, furthermore, seek to hold poor performing individuals, institutions and departments accountable for inadequate service delivery.

  • Community Action Teams

    Community Action Teams

    In the past few years, Sonke’s Community Action Team (CAT) model has grown to encompass a network of activated, concerned citizens in over 50 groups across the country, who mobilise and educate their communities, put pressure on state actors to respond to cases of GBV with urgency and justice, and support victims of violence. CATs respond to the needs present in their own communities, and choose different actions depending on their interests, purpose, and resources. For example, one CAT might form a hip-hop group to educate youth in schools about HIV and AIDS or GBV, while another might organise an HIV testing day, and another a campaign to pressurise a local ward councillor to improve street lighting. CATs also organise and implement the critical function of holding local officials to account for their roles and responsibilities, much of which focuses on court monitoring, which includes creating community activism and awareness and educating the community and the officials tasked with delivering services (courts, police officials and health institutions) of their responsibilities and duties highlighted in policy documents, legislation and regulations, Victim Empowerment Programme, National Instructions, and Standard Operating Procedures to name a few.

    In 2014, CAT member Sithile Nohaya took on the case of 27-year old Sandiswa Mhlawuli who was stabbed to death by her boyfriend Nkosinam Xabadiya in front of several eye-witnesses. Despite the court order that Sandiswa had already received against him, and the testimony of witnesses, Xabadiya was released without bail. The Dutywa and other local CATs picketed and pressurised the local courts to act justly and swiftly. Their actions assisted in a guilty verdict and 20-year sentence for Xabadiya, in only ten months, despite major initial delays in the case. In addition to support for the victim and their family, Sonke’s court monitoring also measures, assesses and verifies the effectiveness and adequacy of the services rendered to the public by the court structure.

  • Gugulethu Wellness Centre

    Gugulethu Wellness Centre

    The Gugulethu Wellness Centre, located in the Klipfontein district outside of Cape Town, was opened as a joint development between Sonke and the City of Cape Town in 2012. It is run out of a number of containers which house an office, a clinic and a space to host workshops, such as the One Man Can Beyond The Bars programme. Through the Wellness Centre, Sonke is able to reach people in their own communities, with a local presence to strengthen outreach and have repeated interactions around a number of health and gender messages with the community members.

    Counselling forms an important part of the centre’s holistic approach, something the staff members believe sets it apart from other clinics in the area. The clinic is clean, plain and orderly. It has white walls, benches, posters and reading material on health issues. Yet, unlike other clinics, the walls and tables are adorned with posters and pamphlets concerning issues such as gender-based violence (GBV), gender equality and encouraging fathers to play with their children or to attend sessions on being a good father, through Sonke’s MenCare programme.

    The clinic is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and saw a 21% increase in visitors from September 2012 to September 2013. One of the factors which makes the centre so popular is the availability of a male nurse – which increases men’s willingness to access health services and to go for a check-up.

    The failure of men to access health services creates a health burden on their partners, children, and themselves. Studies show that, compared with HIV-positive women, HIV-positive men are less likely to be tested for HIV, less likely to use antiretrovirals, are more likely to start treatment at an advanced stage of HIV, and are more likely to interrupt their treatment.

    The Wellness Centre is what its name suggests – it is about promoting wellness, whether around health, relationships or family – and it provides support and counselling to advance health, gender equality and wellness in the community. It provides an alternative social space for men – an alternative to taverns and the like, and a space where men can discuss the issues that they are confronted with in their daily lives.

  • Prisons Transformation

    Prisons Transformation

    The work Sonke does both in and outside of prisons cuts across two of its units – Community Education and Mobilisation (CEM) and Policy Development and Advocacy (PDA). The CEM Unit’s objective is the implementation of the One Man Can (OMC) campaign in correctional service centres across the Western Cape. The PDA Unit aims to advocate for law and policy reform around sexual abuse, HIV prevention and access to treatment in prisons.

    Since 2007, Sonke has implemented its One Man Can (OMC) Prisons Transformation Project in Department of Correctional Services (DCS) centers across the Western Cape, and has done so with the vital support of the Western Cape Department of Health (WCDoH).

    The project has 5 overall objectives:

    • Establish new and strengthen existing partnerships with DCS; NDoH; HIV, AIDS, STIs and TB (HAST) Coordinators; and other key stakeholders.
    • Build the capacity of inmates and DCS officials as peer educators for HIV and AIDS prevention and to promote health-seeking behaviours amongst them.
    • Build the capacity of DCS officials to provide HIV and AIDS support and to address sexual abuse of inmates in DCS facilities, through master training and follow-up.
    • To contribute to the successful post-release integration of HIV-infected and affected prisoners.
    • To ensure the development and implementation of best policies with regard to HIV and AIDS and sexual violence in correctional centres.

    Sonke has also rolled out its OMC campaign prisons work to former inmates, as 80% of inmates re-offend, and an estimated 360,000 inmates cycle in/out of prisons each year. This clearly links HIV inside prisons to HIV in our communities. Coupled with the stigma and discrimination that former inmates experience when returning to their communities, it is vital to have HIV prevention interventions that reach ex-inmates in addition to those still imprisoned. This work is achieved through the Beyond the Bars project.

    This project is at its heart a peer education programme that works with inmate peer educators and prison officials to:

    • Reduce HIV, STIs and TB risk.
    • Improve access to vital HIV prevention services.
    • Promote and encourage an HIV testing culture within prisons.
    • Improve access to integrated treatment for HIV.
    • Support prisoners infected and affected by HIV and AIDS.
    • Educate prisoners and encourage medical male circumcision.
    • Help ensure that prisoners’ health rights are respected and promoted, so that they experience patient-centred quality and continuity of care, while in DCS custody.
    • Train DCS officials to address sexual abuse, as this is a leading cause of HIV in prisons.

    Sonke supports its peer educators through continuous follow-up visits. These visits serve to provide guidance to peer educators and provide refresher trainings for them. They also provide a space to support HIV-infected and affected inmates. Additionally, Sonke facilitates internal problem solving in each centre. This serves to solve blockages to services – e.g. when an HIV-positive inmate struggles to access treatment.

    Beyond the Bars

    The new One Man Can (OMC) Beyond the Bars Community Action Team (CAT) helps former inmates return to life outside of prison. Through the outreach activities Sonke has been doing in prisons since 2007, we have understood the importance of continuing to work with the people with whom we had worked in prison after they are released. To support these men in continuing to practice and share OMC principles to help them reintegrate into the community and avoid re-offending, we set up this specialised CAT that also serves as a support group for the former inmates.

    The group (11 former inmates) meets every other week, and is led by Sonke staff. Going forward, Sonke will also work with the former inmates to advocate for the rights of current inmates, ex-inmates and remand detainees. While reliable statistics are lacking, estimates of recidivism rates in South Africa range from 24-94%. Early signs are positive that the Beyond the Bars CAT is helping reduce this rate significantly among the former inmate participants.

  • Diepsloot CEM Impact Evaluation

    Diepsloot CEM Impact Evaluation

    South Africa is one of the countries with the highest levels of sexual violence in the world. One of the areas known for its high prevalence of gender-based violence (GBV) is Diepsloot, in Johannesburg. Sonke has been working with Afrika Tikkun in Diepsloot since 2012. An Afrika Tikkun situational assessment of the area pointed at high levels of violence, particularly against children, and the need to engage men in prevention activities. Lawyers Against Abuse (LvA) has also identified a lack of proper services for victims of GBV in the area and has been considering the establishment of a legal office in Diepsloot.

    This project is a partnership between Sonke and LvA. LvA – operating from the Centre for Applied Legal Studies at Wits University – works to create systemic change to prevent abuse, protect victims, and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice. To achieve this, LvA aims to empower victims with direct legal representation; to encourage victims to claim their rights; to catalyse improved system response through targeted impact education; and to support and respect the rights of victims in the process.

    The project thus seeks to:

    • Contribute to the prevention of GBV in Diepsloot through community education and mobilisation by strengthening mobilisation and advocacy efforts and conducting public awareness activities to educate the Diepsloot community on the prevention of, and response, to GBV.
    • Provide direct legal services and psycho-social support to victims of GBV in Diepsloot through a partnership with LvA, along with impact education of state actors on their legal role and responsibility towards victims of GBV.

    Expected outcomes of this project include:

    • Improved awareness and knowledge among community members – particularly men – on the impact of GBV and increased skills and commitment by communities to address it.
    • Increased capacity of partner organisations to implement Sonke’s One Man Can Campaign (OMC) independently in Diepsloot and to fully integrate OMC activities into their existing and future programme activities.
    • Strengthened capacity and commitment amongst partner organisations and key community stakeholders to understand and address the relationship between gender roles, negative masculinities and GBV and HIV & AIDS.
    • Improved access to justice and psycho-social support for victims of GBV in Diepsloot.
    • Increased accountability of criminal justice system actors in the Diepsloot area.
    • Positive changes in social norms, attitudes and behaviour related to GBV and gender equality, leading to a reduction in violence.

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  • Safer South Africa

    Safer South Africa

    Since 2013, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Sonke have been jointly implementing a programme dubbed ‘A Safer South Africa for Women and Children: Improved Security and Justice for Women, Girls and Boys’. The programme is designed to create a protective environment that will strengthen national prevention mechanisms to reduce violence against women, girls and boys through a primary focus on prevention and a secondary focus on improving access to existing response services by communities. Sonke has been implementing a specific component of the programme – “Mobilised Social Change on Prevention of Violence Against Women and Children” – in the Eastern Cape and Free State provinces.

    Sonke facilitates community-based interventions focusing on increasing constructive male involvement in GVB prevention programmes through social mobilisation, community advocacy, and enhancing community capacity to sustain local actions on GBV prevention in six selected districts in the Eastern Cape and Free State (chosen due to their weak human development indicators). The activities of this project are a product of a thorough consultative process with various government departments in both provinces, as well as technical consultation sessions with Sonke.

    Through the project, Sonke employs various programme strategies including:

    • Capacity building of community-based organisations.
    • Social mobilisation targeted at men and boys to change attitudes and norms on GBV and gender equality.

    Community action planning to sustain and integrate GBV prevention into local government and related processes.

  • Home

    Using gender-transformative approaches to achieve human rights and gender justice

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    NEWS FROM SONKE

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    Generation Gender South Africa facilitated Integrated Development Plan…

    Harnessing youth leadership towards addressing Gender-Based Violence i…

    Promotion of children: SRHR, advocacy and youth participation project …

    Sonke demands justice for Gender Based Violence victim outside Cape To…

    “I would say we must not tire to report about gender injustices” s…

    Q&A with Rumbidzai (Rumbie) Chidoori at CSW68

    Zim women wallow in unpaid work: Report

    Commission on Status of Women CSW68 highlights

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    Press Releases

    South Africa’s Human Rights Day is an achievement worthy of celebration

    25 March 2024
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    AUDA-NEPAD and Sonke commemorate International Women’s Day

    8 March 2024
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    MenEngage Africa Alliance and Sonke Gender Justice commemorates International Women’s Day

    8 March 2024
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    Sonke Gender Justice suspends a staff member on allegations of sexual assault

    7 December 2023
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    Sonke’s 16 days of accountability theme urges duty bearers to ensure justice is served to all survivors of gender based violence

    1 December 2023
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    Sonke urges the South African government to deal with the scourge of violence

    16 November 2023
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    How can I take action to end gender-based violence in South Africa?

    #OwnYourNSP

    #KnowYourNSP

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    Stories of Impact

    The Gendered dimension of Climate Change

    Cancelling the notion ‘men will always be men’’, championing the fight against Gender-Based Violence.

    Menstrual Hygiene Day 2024

    Sonke Gender Justice

    Resources

    Sexual harassment support team members

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    The National Strategic Plan on Gender Based Violence and Femicide

    The Power to Youth Expedition

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    Sonke Annual Report 2022/3

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    MEA SRHR learning and exchange symposium outcome document

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    Detailed Policy Report for Uganda

    Detailed Policy Report for Uganda

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  • Sonke’s Board

    Sonke Gender Justice is governed by a board of well-known civil society leaders. The Sonke Board of Directors comprise of a minimum of 3 members and a maximum of 12 members. The Board composition takes into account issues of diversity and representation. It considers the following:

    • Representatives from women’s rights organisations;
    • Youth representation;
    • People living with HIV and AIDS;
    • Representatives from refugee and migrant communities;
    • Representatives from other African countries;
    • People from the LGBTQI+ community;
    • People living with disabilities

    Sonke’s Board Members

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  • One Man Can in Sudan – Video

    One Man Can in Sudan – Video

    Below is an updated video on the implementation of Sonke’s One Man Can Campaign in four states in Sudan.

  • Internships at Sonke

    Sonke Gender Justice offers internships for dynamic, enthusiastic, mature and committed individuals and professionals who are interested in learning from and contributing to Sonke’s work. There is no financial support for internships at Sonke.

    Qualities and skills that we are looking for include:

    • Interest in and/or knowledge and experience of one or more of the following areas:
      • Gender Studies, Masculinities, Women’s Studies
      • Communications (including Writing, Editing and Visual Media)
      • Mobilisation and Organizing
      • Organizational Capacity Building
      • Media and Outreach
      • International Development
      • Policy, Advocacy and Law
      • Research
      • Human Resources
      • Donor Relations and Fundraising
      • Monitoring and Evaluation
      • Sociology, African Studies, International Law, International Relations, Community Development
      • Health, HIV/AIDS, Health Policy, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Child Protection, Refugee Rights, Human Rights
      • Government Systems, Policies and Advocacy
    • A strong gender-equality and human-rights ethos.
    • Fluency in English. Other languages (such as French, Portuguese, Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans) are meriting.
    • Strong English writing and editing skills.
    • Web, software, technical or graphic design skills are meriting.

    Types of Internships

    General Internships

    As a prospective intern, you can apply for a general internship. A general internship application will be assessed in terms of the quality of the specific skills and experience that the candidate offers. Interns who were directly referred by a Sonke staff member, or who form part of an agreed internship programme usually apply for general internships. Only applications of a Master’s degree and above level qualify for a general internship.
    Please note that if we do not reply to your application within 15 working days with an invitation for an interview, you may regard your application as unsuccessful.

    Individual Unit Internships

    Sonke is structured into multiple units, each working with a different constituency or audience. Different skills and experience apply to each. The more specific you are with your application, the more likely you will be awarded an internship.
    Internships are available in the following units:

    Communications and Strategic Information (CSI) Unit

    A CSI internship usually involves working with media and media related tasks. This could include copyediting, documenting our work, writing press releases, social media, and supporting CSI activities and events, skills in public relations, writing, social media, photography, multi-media, editing and web development are very useful.

    Community Education and Mobilisation (CEM) Unit

    A CEM internship usually includes tasks such as supporting our on-the-ground trainings and workshops, documenting activities, or working on training materials. Writing, facilitation and community organizing skills are useful for this internship.

    Policy, Development and Advocacy Unit (PDA) Unit

    Internships in the PDA unit are often focused on analysing or commenting on policy documents, or involvement in policy advocacy. A law degree, or legal/policy experience is very useful for this internship.

    Regional Programmes Unit (RP Unit)

    The RPU team works mostly with the MenEngage networks; both MenEngage Africa and MenEngage Global. An internship with the RPU usually involves research and analysis of national and international policies, laws, and plans to engage men and boys in varying topics involving gender equality. Research, writing, policy and international development skills and experience are useful.

    Apply for an Internship

    Please complete the application form to apply for an internship.

    Past Sonke Interns

    Here are some of the past interns who have worked with Sonke recently:

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