COVID 19 has presented new challenges to all of us! Sonke would like to  thank our donors and partners for your unwavering support.

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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 ensure that we are able to achieve our goals without exposing both our staff and partners to any COVID-related risks. Despite these challenges we are excited to share our latest newsletter with you.

To our donors and partners, Sonke Gender Justice would 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 challenges 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.


** SONKE NEWS & VIEWS
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** Parenting
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** Unpaid care work still falls on women: seven steps that could shift the balance ([link removed])
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Throughout the pandemic, many people across the world were forced to renegotiate their care responsibilities during periods of lockdown. Women and men generally received assistance from their spouses or partners during the pandemic, however women’s contribution to unpaid care work increased further despite increasing contributions from men.

Furthermore, both men and women throughout the East and Southern Africa region indicated that they received more help for unpaid care work from their daughters than from their sons. Finding a way to increase the participation of men and fathers in unpaid care work could have an important effect on a more equal distribution between women and men... [READ MORE] ([link removed])


** Human Rights
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** The eSwatini government’s violent response to peaceful pro-democracy protests poses a threat to the fundamental right to life and infringes on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly enshrined in article 21 of the international covenant on civil and political rights. ([link removed])
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We are deeply concerned by the senseless police brutality and state-sanctioned violence in eSwatini. The eSwatini government’s violent response to peaceful pro-democracy protests poses a threat to the fundamental right to life and infringes on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly enshrined in Article 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights – to which Swaziland is a signatory.

The use of brutal force against peaceful protestors has become part of the fabric of the African political realm. Both in the past and present, many African governments have resorted to the use of violence to discourage citizens from seeking political reform and stable democracies.

The Kingdom of eSwatini is a member of the United Nations and the African Union. It has ratified numerous UN Human Rights Conventions thereby making binding international commitments to adhere to the standards laid down in these documents. Therefore, it is prudent that African leaders take a clear stance on this human rights violation and ensure that the eSwatini government refrains from the use of excessive force against protestors and hold it accountable for the brazen violation of human rights...[READ MORE] ([link removed])


** Women's Rights
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** The slow progress in the ratification and implementation of the maputo protocol has had negative consequences on womxn and girls across africa. ([link removed])
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Since its adoption in 2003, the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, known as the Maputo Protocol, has contributed in shifting the trajectory on the promotion and protection of woman’s rights in Africa.

Despite its progressive protections, to date, only 42 countries have signed and ratified the Maputo Protocol. Of those 42, fewer still have taken the necessary steps to align their legal frameworks, policies and budgetary commitments to the Articles of the Protocol... [READ MORE] ([link removed])


** Privacy policy
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** Sonke Gender Justice is POPIA compliant ([link removed])
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Sonke Gender Justice values and respects your privacy and would like to assure you that we are committed to keeping your personal information secure and confidential. With the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) coming into effect from July 1, 2021, we want to ensure that we have your consent to keep sending through communication to you. The POPI Act gives effect to the constitutional right to privacy, regulates the way personal information may be processed and provides rights and remedies to protect personal information...[READ MORE] ([link removed])


** Parenting / Fatherhood
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** State of the world’s fathers 2021: structural solutions to achieve equality in care work. ([link removed].)
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The State of the World’s Fathers 2021 report – the fourth in the series – presents research on care work during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on structural barriers that prevent equitable distribution of caregiving between women and men. While data show that men are participating more in care work during the pandemic, data also show that the world is a long way off from achieving full equality in care work. The report provides seven solutions – from the individual to the structural level – that need to be implemented to create a more care- and gender-equal world...[READ MORE] ([link removed].)


** Refugee Rights
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** Our Policy Development & Advocacy (PDA) unit hosted a creative activism training for the consortium for refugees and migrants in South Africa. ([link removed])
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The purpose was to teach those in attendance new and innovative strategies for activism to raise awareness on various migrant experiences in South Africa and advocate for more inclusive and human rights centred policies. On the last day of the training participants held a mock celebration of the reopening of the Cape Town Refugee Reception offices which were still closed at the time.

We mock celebrated the beneficial outcome of the resumption of services with placards with statement such as “I can now open a bank account” because for as long as the services of the Cape Town Refugee Reception Office (CTRRO) are suspended migrants are unable to open bank accounts, secure tenancy, access health care or enroll their children in schools. The posters therefore reflected in inverse position to the status quo at the time... [READ MORE] ([link removed])


** SONKE ON YOUTUBE
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** Abstract writing tips by sonke and menengage africa
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Sonke and MenEngage Africa organised an online workshop on how to draft conference abstracts with a focus on the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA). Through this workshop, we sought to provide you with the skills and competencies to write informative and succinct abstracts.

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** Housework gender gap
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Danya Marx speaks to #eNCA about The State of the World’s Fathers 2021 report.


** 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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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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