View this email in your browser ([link removed])
[link removed]


** PRESS RELEASE
------------------------------------------------------------
Sonke supports the call for a national debate and a SADC intervention in the Kingdom of Eswatini to address the unrest in the country


** For Immediate Release
------------------------------------------------------------

Sonke Gender Justice (Sonke) supports the call for a credible national debate in the Kingdom of Eswatini to address the ongoing protests that have been met with state sponsored violence.

The dialogue must be credible to enable meaningful engagement of all key stakeholders. To this end, we urge that an independent facilitator be identified with agreement from all stakeholders. It is vital that the process is transparent and that the playing field is levelled for all to participate freely.

The use of persistent force continues to intensify, and this was demonstrated when citizens headed to the capital and the state responded violently calling off the protests and shutting down the internet in an attempt to stop the circulation of images of the protests on social media.

According to some reports the 16-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC) envoy travelled to Eswatini last week to meet with the King and civil society groups and we hope that with SADC’s intervention will help the citizens of Eswatini. We therefore urge the governments in the SADC to engage with the Eswatini King and leadership in the hope that this will help eradicate the gross violation of human rights.

In a time when the world is also facing a global pandemic, if left unchecked, the violence will severely exacerbate gender inequality putting women and girls at a disadvantage. Sonke stands in solidarity with the people of Eswatini and we send our unwavering support to the citizens of the kingdom.

We would also like to send our heartfelt condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. We remain hopeful for a speedy resolution of this impasse.

For media enquiries contact:

Bafana Khumalo, Sonke’s Co-Executive Director, 0825784479 or [email protected]

Given Sigauqwe, Sonke’s Communication & Strategic Information Manager, 0739882870 or [email protected]


Visit Sonke ([link removed])

============================================================
** Share ([link removed])
** Share ([link removed])
** Tweet ([link removed] http%3A%2F%2Feepurl.com%2FhLYfNf)
** Tweet ([link removed] http%3A%2F%2Feepurl.com%2FhLYfNf)
** Forward ([link removed])
** Forward ([link removed])
Copyright © 2021 Sonke Gender Justice, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you subscribed via our website or requested your address to be added to our mailing list.

Our mailing address is:
Sonke Gender Justice
122 Longmarket Street
Cape Town, Western Cape 8001
South Africa
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can ** update your preferences ([link removed])
or ** unsubscribe from this list ([link removed])
.