The second MenEngage Africa Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights Learning and Exchange Symposium: Taking stock, filling gaps and exploring opportunities
The MenEngage Africa Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights Learning and Exchange Symposium concluded in Nairobi, Kenya, leaving a lasting impact on the continent’s efforts to promote SRHR for all. The three-day event brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including government officials, civil society organisations, researchers, and community leaders, to share knowledge, experiences, and best […]
Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei’s death a reminder for the continent to prioritise the fight against gender based violence
MenEngage Africa and Sonke Gender Justice are saddened by the death of Ugandan marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei, who tragically fell victim to domestic violence. The athlete, who recently participated impressively at the 2024 Paris Olympics, succumbed to her injuries inflicted on her by her former boyfriend, Dickson Marangach, who allegedly set her on fire. MEA […]
Sonke Gender Justice and MenEngage Africa celebrate the coming into force of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Africa
Sonke Gender Justice and MenEngage Africa welcome the historic coming into force of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Africa. This is a landmark Protocol which is significant in recognizing and safeguarding the rights of persons with disabilities across the continent and […]
The second MenEngage Africa SRHR Learning and Exchange Symposium will be held in Nairobi, Kenya
MenEngage Africa is hosting the 2nd annual SRHR Learning and Exchange Symposium on Progress 2024, from August 12 to August 14, 2024, in Nairobi, Kenya. The gathering is a pivotal gathering aimed at promoting the realisation of Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) and gender equality across the African continent. The symposium will bring together […]
MenEngage Africa (MEA) welcomes ban on child marriages in Sierra Leone
MenEngage Africa welcomes the official ban on child marriages in Sierra Leone. President Julius Maada Bio signed into law the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act on Tuesday, 2 July 2024, at a signing ceremony organized by First Lady Fatima Bio in Freetown. The First Lady Bio’s “Hands Off Our Girls” campaign has been instrumental in […]
Civil society statement on the proposed re-criminalisation of HIV in Zimbabwe
In 2022, the Government of Zimbabwe was celebrated nationally1 and internationally2 for repealing the country’s HIV-specific criminal law, Section 79 of the Criminal Code. When announcing the repeal in Parliament, Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs noted: “…the global thinking now is that that law stigmatises people living with HIV and studies […]
MenEngage Africa Alliance and Sonke Gender Justice commemorates International Women’s Day
MenEngage Africa Alliance (MEA) and Sonke Gender Justice joins the world and the Africa region in commemorating International Women’s Day under the theme Invest in women: Accelerate progress. MEA and Sonke steps forward in solidarity, support, and commitment to work for gender equality by 2030 and the advancement of women and girls in all spheres […]
MenEngage Africa recognises journalists at the inaugural Khopotso Bodibe Media Awards
MenEngage Africa and Sonke Gender Justice convened an award ceremony on the 12th of December, acknowledging outstanding journalists reporting on gender transformative work.
All Roads lead to Rwanda for the 3rd MenEngage Africa Symposium.
MenEngage Africa, in collaboration with Sonke Gender Justice, MenEngage Rwanda, and Rwanda Men’s Resource Centre-RWAMREC, are organising the third MenEngage Africa Symposium scheduled to take place in Kigali, Rwanda from the 14th to 16th of August 2023, under the theme; “Accountability and Transformation through Gender-Equitable Evidence-Based Programming”. This event will bring together MenEngage Africa members […]
Uganda’s anti-homosexuality bill could spark a new wave of violence against the LGBTQI+ community and set the country back
The Ugandan parliament passed a bill recommending tough new penalties for same-sex relations and identifying as gay, in a country where homosexuality is already illegal. LGBTI+ community in Uganda have come under sustained and increasing attack in recent months from politicians, religious leaders, and other public figures. This has manifested itself in the form of […]
MenEngage Africa is disappointed by the disgraceful behaviour by some Kenyan legislators
Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba was kicked out of Parliament on February 14, 2023, for wearing stained trousers. MenEngage Africa is particularly disappointed that members of the legislature acted in a demeaning manner towards the senator and every woman and girl she represents. Gloria Orwoba was asked to leave halfway through the session after her fellow […]
MenEngage Africa strongly condemns the killing of human rights defender Advocate Thulani Maseko
We are deeply saddened by the news of the brutal assassination of Adv. Thulani Maseko, a prominent human rights lawyer in eSwatini. This shocking act of violence is a tragic loss for the legal profession and for the people of eSwatini, who have lost a passionate advocate for justice and equality. Advocate Maseko was gunned […]
MenEngage Africa urges Sierra Leone’s government to prohibit all forms of female genital mutilation (FGM) and to adopt a national strategy to stop FGM.
MenEngage Africa joins a growing number of civil society organisations and anti-FGM activists in urging Sierra Leone’s government to criminalise FGM and protect women and girls from this damaging practice. Maseray Sei, 21, died after acute haemorrhage and shock a day after being subjected to FGM on December 20, 2021, according to a post-mortem performed […]
MenEngage Africa (MEA) condemns the reckless brutal killings of innocent people in a church in the Owo State in Nigeria and sends its heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims
On the morning of 4 June, a group of terrorists attacked the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, brutally killing an estimated 50 people and leaving several injured. The Catholic church is in Owa-Luwa street, which is the headquarters of the Owo Local Government area. We have seen similar gruesome and […]
Sonke Gender Justice and MenEngage Africa to participate in the 21st Edition of the International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA)
Sonke Gender Justice, in collaboration with MenEngage Africa and Southern Africa AIDS Dissemination Service (SAfAIDS), will host 2 (two) high-level side events at the 21st Edition of the International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA). This crossbreed (in-person and virtual). The high-level side events will take place on December 07 and […]
MenEngage Africa observes 16 Days of Activism
The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that begins on November 25th, International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and ends on December 10th, Human Rights Day. This is an opportunity for us all to reaffirm our commitment to ending gender-based violence and hold one another accountable. […]
Tribute by MenEngage nigeria network for global communications specialist Sonke Gender Justice Khopotso Mangoenyane Bodibe
The news of your death came to us as shock. Sorrow fills our hearts this sad moment, a sorrow that is deep. Khopotso has silently closed the door of life and departed from us.
MenEngage Africa urges the world to condemn Israel’s assaults on Palestine
The latest series of brutal Israeli attacks on the Palestinian people cannot go unchallenged and MenEngage Africa calls on African and the entire world leaders to unequivocally stand with the people of Palestine to condemn and act to end this violence.
Namibia & Rwanda among world’s top 10 gender-equal societies
Namibia and Rwanda, two of 22 member countries of MenEngage Africa Alliance, are the only countries in sub-Saharan Africa that are fast moving towards attaining gender equality, and they rank 6th and 7th in world rankings, respectively, placing them among the world’s top 10 most gender-equal societies.
Men’s involvement & tough action by African leaders needed to stop FGM
Saturday marks the International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) under the theme “No Time for Global Inaction, Unite, Fund, and Act to End Female Genital Mutilation”. FGM is a procedure that partially or totally removes a female’s external genitalia for non-medical reasons, causing irreparable and irreversible harm, as well as life-long […]
MenEngage Swaziland condemns cop’s murder of wife and her lover
As the world and the country is affected by COVID-19, a new norm has been established resulting in the lockdown of countries, including Eswatini, and life as we know it has altered and is nearing a stand-still. In such situations it is not surprising, albeit unfortunate, that people seem to buckle under the pressure created […]
MenEngage Botswana welcomes suspension of MP following allegations of defiling a minor
MenEngage Botswana welcomes the decision by the Botswana Democratic Party to suspend the Member of Parliament for Nata-Gweta, Mr Polson Majaga, following allegations of defilement of a minor. It is our belief that not only will the suspension assist in the investigation of the case, it also shows zero tolerance for child sexual exploitation. We […]
MenEngage Botswana concerned about allegations of statutory rape by MP
MenEngage Botswana is greatly disappointed by reports on the alleged defilement of a minor by Member of Parliament for Nata-Gweta constituency by Mr Polson Majaga. The welfare of children remains threatened due to actions such as defilement which sometimes go unreported or are ignored when high ranking officials are implicated. We wish to caution that […]
Men can end sexual harassment
Sexual harassment in the workplace is varied and prevalent in Uganda and there must be stronger commitment to address this illicit act. For far too long, women have been subject to gender-based discrimination and violence in the workplace. The recent allegations of sexual harassment being reported in various media platforms underpin a much larger issue […]