Press Releases

Sonke joins call for action at the 57^th CSW by the International Campaign to Stop Rape and Gender Violence in Conflict, of which Sonke is a member. Sonke and the campaign call for progressive agreed conclusions and express “alarm that a number of states are using the Commission to reverse hard‐won progress the global community has made in the past couple of decades to eliminate violence against women.”

International Women’s Day, 8th March: Gender equality activists and supporters Ring the Bell to stop violence against women

1 March 2013

On International Women’s Day, Friday, 8 March 2013, both in South Africa and across the world, thousands will Ring the Bell to stop violence against women. Ring the Bell is a global initiative that encourages individuals to take concrete action on violence against women.

Focus on Cape Town Events: Sonke Gender Justice Network Calls on Men to Join One Billion Rising Campaign to Stop Violence Against Women and Girls on 14 February 2013

A grouping of fifteen civil society organisations representing the gender and women’s rights sector, many of which provide prevention and  support services for  women, young people and the victims and survivors of gender-based violence have written to President Zuma. The group is urging the President to set up of a commission of inquiry into gender based violence. 

On February 14, South Africa will be part of a global movement for change - ONE BILLION RISING, the largest day of action in the history of V-Day, the global activist movement to end violence against women and girls. Sonke Gender Justice and partners will take to a rooftop overlooking Mandela Bridge in Johannesburg, and welcome dawn rising on Table Mountain in Cape Town, to express their outrage, demand change, and RISE against injustice, demanding an end to violence against women. 

7 February 2012; South Africa. Sonke Gender Justice joins the growing number of South Africans expressing shock and outrage over the horrific gang rape, mutilation, and murder of 17-year old Anene Booysen. “We send our condolences to her family and to the Bredasdorp community, and call on the authorities to investigate this crime and ensure that the perpetrators are punished to the full extent of the law,” says Sonke’s chairperson Sisonke Msimang.

Issued: 20 April 2012

Civil society organisations from across the country have come together in a broad alliance that rejects the Traditional Courts Bill that is presently before the National Council of Provinces. The Alliance for Rural Democracy includes a cross-section of civil society organisations that are concerned about the detrimental effects the Bill will have on the constituencies they serve and support....

Joint media statement welcoming the steps taken by the South African Human Rights Commission to investigate statements allegedly made by King Goodwill Zwelithini regarding same-sex relationships.

by Anesca Smith en Lizel Steenkamp

Malema

In light of concerns that there will be an increase in sexual exploitation during the World Cup (particularly exploitation of children), Sonke and our partner, Grassroot Soccer, are launching a Red Card Campaign to curb sexual exploitation. The campaign aims to raise awareness about different forms of sexual exploitation and provide people with a practical tool to stop potentially harmful situations, namely the Red Card.

Civil society organisations have laid a complaint with the Advertising Standards Authority about South African Breweries Carling Black Label advertisement

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has launched the Network of Men Leaders to Combat Violence against Women which includes two South Africans: Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Sonke Gender Justice Network co-director Dean Peacock.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has launched the Network of Men Leaders to Combat Violence against Women which includes two South Africans: Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Sonke Gender Justice Network co-director Dean Peacock.

17 Human Rights NGOs and and 61 individuals (including Desmond Tutu, Richard Goldstone, Dumisa Ntsebeza, Kader Asmal, Hugh Corder, Yasmin Sooka, John Dugard, Jody Kollapen and Karthy Govender) have signed a statement calling on President Jacob Zuma and the South African government to co-operate with the ICC in relation to the warrant of arrest issued for President Omar al-Bashir of The Sudan.

Press statement regarding the statement issued by various civil society organisations and concerned individuals calling upon President Jacob Zuma to honour South Africa

17 Human Rights NGOs and and 61 individuals (including Desmond Tutu, Richard Goldstone, Dumisa Ntsebeza, Kader Asmal, Hugh Corder, Yasmin Sooka, John Dugard, Jody Kollapen and Karthy Govender) have signed a statement calling on President Jacob Zuma and the South African government to co-operate with the ICC in relation to the warrant of arrest issued for President Omar al-Bashir of The Sudan.

Press statement regarding the statement issued by various civil society organisations and concerned individuals calling upon President Jacob Zuma to honour South Africa

This press release was issued in response to comments made by Manto Tshabalala-Msimang (the former Minister of Health and now the Minister in the Presidency) at the CSW.

This press release was issued in response to comments made by Manto Tshabalala-Msimang (the former Minister of Health and now the Minister in the Presidency) at the CSW.

Johannesburg - 4 March 2009 - M

Johannesburg - 4 March 2009 - M

2 March 2009

2 March 2009

Released 29 January 2009.

This is a global statement, signed by 66 organisations, condemning the violent arrests and sexual violations of civil rights activists in Nairobi on 8 July 2008. 

This is a global statement, signed by 66 organisations, condemning the violent arrests and sexual violations of civil rights activists in Nairobi on 8 July 2008. 

Sonke is involved in a number of presentations and other events at the Mexico AIDS Conference in August 2008. Please come and join us if you can.

Issued by Sonke Gender Justice, PASSOP, Black Sash, TAC, AIDS Law Project, 21 May 2008

Issued by Sonke Gender Justice, PASSOP, Black Sash, TAC, AIDS Law Project, 21 May 2008

Issued by the Global Aids Alliance, supported by Sonke Gender Justice Network, 7 September 2007

by Bafana Khumalo and Dean Peacock, May 2006

by Dean Peacock & Nyanda Khanyile, Sonke Gender Justice Project, 25 May 2006

Issued by GETNET, 10 September 2007

Issued by GETNET, 10 September 2007