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COVID 19 has presented new challenges to all of us. In the recent past we have had to learn very fast new ways of doing our work in the context of the ‘new normal’. We have embraced these challenges and have developed new modes of operation that ensures that we still achieve our goals without exposing both our staff and partners to any COVID related risks. Despite the challenges we are excited to share our latest newsletter with you.


** SONKE NEWS & VIEWS
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** Pregs Govender joins Sonke as a senior fellow! ([link removed])
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We are excited to formally announce the Sonke Feminist Leadership Fellowship. Pregs Govender joins Sonke as a senior fellow from February 2021 for a 2-year period. The aim of the fellowship is to establish an Institute for Transformative Feminist Leadership. The institute will create a space for feminists to focus on transformative leadership and have the space and time to write and share their stories. The institute will utilise popular education methodologies that include storytelling in the form of blogs, podcasts, and visual stories. The first year of the fellowship will focus on the development of the course outline and materials for the pilot institute. The second year will focus on rolling out the pilot Institute for Feminist Leadership. MORE HERE ([link removed]) .


** 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. ([link removed])
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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 facing a double threat in meeting their sexual and reproductive health rights outcomes (SRHR). The Policy Brief explores some of the effects of GGR and COVID 19 in countries such as Kenya, Sierra Leone, Zambia and Uganda. MORE HERE ([link removed]) .


** Gender Equality
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** Sonke Gender Justice recognised as a ‘high scoring’ organisation in the Global Health 50/50 (GH5050) annual Gender and Health Index on gender equality ([link removed])
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Now in its fourth year, the GH5050 report and index review how organisations are working to maintain their commitments to gender equality and social justice, particularly in this period of crisis, where inequalities have played a clear role in determining health and well-being as well as career security and progression for employees. MORE HERE ([link removed]) .


** Gender-based violence
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** Markham pledges to take a stand against Gender-Based Violence in South Africa ([link removed] )
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The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating effect on people’s lives across the globe. Its impact on global economies, health sectors and the environment has been severe. But locally, the social impact has been most poignant, with a steep rise in domestic violence running parallel with the onset of hard lockdown regulations. The fight against gender-based violence has demanded the government’s acute attention, and in 2020, President Cyril Ramaphosa declared this scourge (of GBV) to be a second pandemic. The president took care to reiterate the fact that gender-based violence cannot be fought by government alone. In response, leading men’s fashion retailer, Markham, has amplified their current efforts to help combat GBV. As part of its ongoing initiative against GBV, Markham recently donated more than half a million rand to Sonke through the sales of their ‘Help! Don't Harm’ campaign T-shirts, which launched in 2020. MORE HERE
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** Gender-based violence
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** Sonke Gender justice continues to call on the government to fast track the implementation of the Gender-based Violence and Femicide National Strategic Plan. ([link removed])
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As a country we have embarked on a positive trajectory that seeks to steer us away from this negative sentiment and set us on a course free of GBV. The current NSP – GBV and Femicides is a useful policy intervention, far reaching and potentially potent to help turn the tide against GBV and Femicides. While Sonke welcomes the President’s commitment to ending the scourge of gender-based violence, we are also deeply concerned by the fact that there are no fool proof systems in place to ensure that the commitments made by duty bearers on ending gender-based violence are routinely monitored and evaluated. We need bold leadership that will help guide the country through these treacherous mazes of women abuse. MORE HERE ([link removed]) .


** The MenEngage Ubuntu Symposium ([link removed])
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The symposium is a space for listening, critical reflection, and commitment to action across work to transform masculinities and engage men and boys for gender equality and social justice. By coming together from across regions, cultures, backgrounds, and languages, we aspire to help make ‘men and masculinities’ work more effective and accountable for women’s rights, LGBTQI rights, racial justice, economic justice, climate justice, and other social justice issues. MORE HERE ([link removed]) .


** Gender-based violence
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** Faith Action to End Gender-Based Violence ([link removed])
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Last year, about 40 faith-based organisations across the country joined forces to take a stand against gender-based violence and femicide. The collective has been meeting regularly to discuss possible solutions to the growing scourge of violence against womxn. It is unacceptable that femicide rates in the country were five times higher than the global average. The collective that is now known as the Faith Action to End Gender-Based Violence launched a "70 Days Campaign" that aimed to embark on practical efforts to fight the crisis of gender-based violence and calling religious organizations to take a stand and contribute to the fight to eliminate femicide in South Africa. MORE HERE ([link removed]) .


** Gender-based violence
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** Let the world know what you Stand Up for... ([link removed] )
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Stand UP Together SA: Wear the T-shirt that shows you stand up in solidarity and in support of organisations combating Gender Based Violence. #StrongerTogether #UnitedAgainstGBV #StandUp MORE HERE ([link removed] ) .


** DONOR CORNER
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To our donors and partners, Sonke Gender Justice like to take this opportunity to thank you for your unwavering support.

It has been a challenging period, filled with loss, uncertainty and adjustments as the world came to grips with the realities the ‘new normal’ that came with the novel COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this your belief in our organisation and the important work that we do did not waiver. Our successes as an organization would not have been possible if it were not for your support.

Particularly, we would like to thank and acknowledge the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women (UNTF EVAW) for selecting our organisation for additional funding during a period that was marred by uncertainty.

The additional funds continue to provide our organisation with the necessary resources to support the implementation of the original project proposal and the overall goal continues to be that womxn and girls experience safer, more equitable and respectful relationships with their male partners and community members.

We would also like to extend a special thank you to Markham’s. As part of their ongoing initiative against GBV, Markham’s donated more than half a million rand to Sonke from funds raised through the sales of their Help! Don't Harm campaign T-shirts, which launched in October 2020.


** SONKE ON YOUTUBE
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** The human cost of COVID
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Although the lockdown was intended as a temporary measure, the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCC) extended the duration of the lockdown to mid-August 2020. For more than 100 days, vulnerable groups have been struggling under dire conditions. Many are dependent on government-funded aid. But for sex workers, the criminalisation of their trade excluded them from receiving any social relief benefits.
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** MenCare in Africa Media Kit Launch and Webinar
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Sonke Gender Justice through MenCare South Africa and MenEngage Africa launched the MenCare in Africa Media Kit: a toolkit aimed at promoting men as caregivers and fathers by offering guidelines on how to use the power of the media within advocacy initiatives, educational programs, and media campaigns.


** RECOMMENDED RESOURCES
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** Sonke Gender Justice Strategic Plan: 2020-2024
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** Read here ([link removed])
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** Sonke Annual Report 2020
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** Read here ([link removed])
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** Emerging effects of COVID-19 pandemic on gender-based violence in Africa
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** Read here ([link removed])
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** A MenEngage Africa Toolkit for Engaging Men and Boys to Advocate for the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation
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** Read here ([link removed])
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Sonke has been following guidance from our government and the WHO by adhering to the COVID-19 precautionary measures, including mandatory working from home across the organization. We apologise upfront for any delays in responding to your emails as we at Sonke are committed to the wellbeing of our staff and fully understand their responsibilities in terms of child care and caring for vulnerable family members and family members affected by Covid-19.

To report an incident of sexual harassment, bullying, abuse or any other form of harassment experienced, seen or heard about, or an incident of fraud, corruption or bribery: CALL the toll-free whistle-blower hotline: 0800 333 059, or SMS: 33490, or email: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

Sonke does not tolerate sexual harassment, bullying, abuse or any other forms of harassment.
Visit Sonke's website for more social justice news and views ([link removed])

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