The Sonke Gender Justice Network of South Africa works to promote gender equality, prevent gender-based violence, and reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS on the African continent and internationally. The NGO utilizes a human rights framework and works with a range of partners including individuals, women’s rights organizations, government departments, trade unions, social movements, and faith organizations. Sonke Gender Justice Network views gender equality as central to the development of just and democratic societies. The NGO works to build the capacity of government, civil society, and citizens, and to hold those in power accountable.
The Sonke Gender Justice Network was founded in 2006 and is based in Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Bushbuckridge, South Africa. The NGO works in all nine provinces of South Africa and in nearly 20 countries in Africa. The organization’s presence on the continent is expanding, and Sonke partners with a variety of international bodies including the United Nations.
Sonke’s utilizes a “spectrum of change” model that draws on a broad range of strategies to achieve change, including:
- Community education and mobilisation
- Policy development and advocacy
- Networking and coalition work on a national and international level
- Partnering with government to promote policy development and implementation
- Capacity building and training with partner organizations
- Individual skills building
- Research, monitoring and evaluation
Sonke’s works within three broad issue areas: children’s rights and positive parenting; sexual and reproductive health and rights; and the social and structural drivers of violence.
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