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** 4TH QUARTER NEWSLETTER
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Hi Gender Activists!

Welcome to the final MenEngage Africa newsletter of 2022!

Gender activism is not for the faint of heart!" It is something that always goes against all traditions and practises, especially in Africa.

The member organisations of the MenEngage Africa network, which represents over twenty countries across all continents, are the courageous ones who do not give up when injustice occurs.

The year 2022 has been difficult. To be sure, managing all emerging crises and resolving all existing conflicts has been a real challenge since the pandemic. to have an impact while keeping local contexts in mind; to fight while being aware that our cause is not universally supported. This entire phrase translates to "bravery.

This newsletter will inform you about some of the events that took place in each country where the MenEngage network is established. I invite you to read it with great empathy and gratitude. Working for gender justice is a commitment as well as the saddest and most enriching human experience.

We have also gone to great lengths to solidify our network during the year 2022. Another challenge is having several organisations from different countries coordinating the same vision. "However, MenEngage Africa is back and stronger than ever.

Kind regards,

Sariaka Nantenaina
MenEngage Africa Chairperson and Executive Director of Capacity Building For Communities (C-for-C)


** MENENGAGE NEWS
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** NEWS
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** Ontlametse Raleru attends a meeting in Dutch Parliament on Youth Participation and Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR). ([link removed])
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The Youth Leadership Coordinator at Sonke Gender Justice, Ontlametse Raleru, and Muhammad Rey Dwi Pangestu (Rutgers Indonesia) attended a meeting with the APPG, which is an all-party parliamentary group and informal group of MPs dedicated to the promotion and support of SRHR on the 20th of October. Alexander Hammelburg is the president of the commission of International Development.

The meeting was attended by representatives of Dutch political youth organisations, as well as policy makers and representatives of big political parties. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss meaningful youth participation in the field of SRHR, and to provide specific recommendations on how to improve this.

Ontlametse emphasised the importance of youth inclusion in sexual and reproductive health and rights programs and policies, and how Sonke Gender Justice facilitates this through the Power to You(th) program. This program promotes meaningful youth participation in governing structures such as the Global Supervisory Board and the Global Management Team, where Ontlametse represents the youth, as well as capacity-building.
Read more ([link removed])


** News
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** A social worker now a proud proponent of Gender Transformative Approaches (GTA) ([link removed])
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With expertise in areas of social work, women empowerment, and child protection, Agnes had very little knowledge on gender concepts. In June 2022, Sonke Gender Justice under the Power to You(th) (PTY) Programmme facilitated a training on Gender Transformative Approaches (GTA) for all Uganda PTY implementing partners including the Eastern African Sub-Regional Support Initiative for the Advancement of Women (EASSI), Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU), and Uganda Youth and Adolescent Health Forum (UYAHF).

“The training has impacted on me both at personal and professional levels. Professionally, I am able to look at things differently: For example, while implementing activities, I make sure intersectionality and representation of stakeholders within the socio-ecological model are met”, says Agnes Akoth.
Read more ([link removed])


** Webinar and Twitter space
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** 2gether 4 SRHR hosts Men's Health Webinar and Twitter space ([link removed])
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The 2gether 4 SRHR programme and regional partners, African Population & Health Research Centre (APHRC), Eastern Africa National Networks of AIDS and Health Service Organizations (EANNASO), MenEngage Africa, Sonke Gender Justice and the University of Kwazulu-Natal (UKZN) organized a webinar on 25th of November 2022 on Men’s Mental Health. The webinar sought to answer the following
* Where is the voice of men in GBV?
* Where are the men's health programmes?
* Is the boy child getting left behind?
* Why is HIV the leading cause of death among men in the ESA region?
* How do make men's health a global-health priority?

The webinar was followed by a Twitter Space post titled Men as Change Agents for Human Rights, which was timed to coincide with the observance of International Human Rights Day on December 10, 2022. The Twitter Space brought together men from Kenya, Zambia, and South Africa to talk about their roles in ensuring the dignity and human rights of all.
Read more ([link removed])


** News
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** MenEngage Nigeria participants at the Do-No-Harm Conference, in Abuja on November 28–29, 2022 ([link removed])
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The two-day "Do No Harm Conference," with the theme "Men Unite: Take the Lead to End Violence Against All Women and Girls," was held on November 28 and 29, 2022, in AES Luxury Apartments and Suites, Jabi, Abuja, hosted , by the Disability Rights Advocacy Centre (DRAC).

The conference took a deliberate swipe at the growing issues of sexual gender-based violence(SGBV), with a particular focus on securing men and boys' cooperation to end sexual and all gender-based violence against women and girls, particularly violence perpetrated against people with disabilities.

The conference drew participants from all sectors, including the media, government regulatory bodies, law enforcement agencies, the disability community, NGOs, and the general public, and MenEngage Nigeria had six members in attendance.
Read more ([link removed])


** News
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** Generation Gender Uganda is transforming perspectives through exchange learnings ([link removed])
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Generation Gender Uganda has embraced exchange learning to share best practises, strengthen partnerships, and create synergies in the fight for gender justice, unpaid care work, and young people's access to civic spaces. They have used collective learning with and for young people to advocate for a gender-just and violence-free society.

From September 19 to September 23, a delegation from Generation Gender South Africa led by Sonke Gender Justice visited the country for an exchange and learning visit. They visited the Reach A Hand office and met the Uganda implementation team for #GenerationGender.

The SA team was taken to the communities as part of the visit, where we held community dialogues, outreaches, a capacity-building session on gender justice and SRHR with the district youth council, and monitoring field visits.

The team discussed gender justice and the causes of GBV in society during the community dialogues. They visited Adjumani communities, reaching out to the most remote areas to spark conversations about achieving gender justice through community participation.
Read more ([link removed])


** News
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** MenEngage Madagascar network hosted a Youth Symposium with 157 young people from the Menabe region ([link removed])
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As part of the 16 days of activism in the fight against violence against women and girls, MenEngage Madagascar succeeded in bringing to life its vision: "give each individual in society his or her share of responsibility for making a positive change” The goal was to provide a space for reflection, sharing, engagement, action and a forum for youth to take full part in societal issues and take action.

The MenEngage Madagascar network organised a youth symposium on December 3rd, 2022, in Mahabo, Morondava. This symposium was dedicated to capacity building on gender equality, positive masculinity, and the fight against sexual exploitation of children by the new ambassadors of the network MenEngage Madagascar.
Read more ([link removed])


** News
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** MenEngage Swaziland at the Standard Bank Blue Table ([link removed])
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MenEngage Swaziland was invited to be a panelist on the Standard Bank Blue Table Talks podcast on December 1, 2022. The podcast was created to commemorate World AIDS Day and the 16 days of anti-violence activism.

The session featured three panellists such as Mr. Mazwi Mavuso, NERCHA's Prevention Manager; Ms. Thobile Dlamini, Eswatini Business and Health's Chief Executive Officer; and Bonginkosi Ndlangamandla, MenEngage Eswatini's National Coordinator.

The increase in new HIV infections was discussed, with SHIMS 3 (2022) data showing a 17% increase in prevalence among AGYW aged 15-24, compared to around 3% for the same age group of men. HIV prevalence has increased among men aged 30 and up. According to the data, older men have sex with younger girls and women. The findings show that HIV spread is facilitated by socioeconomic vulnerabilities.
Watch session ([link removed])


** MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
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Meet Bonginkosi Zweli Ndlangamandla is currently the National Coordinator for MenEngage Eswatini. He has a vast experience in working with men and boys in various platforms (Religious Leaders, Traditional Leaders, and men in the workplace as well as general community men) and school going boys. He has more experience in engaging Men for Gender Equality. He has been the working with Men and Boys since 2015. He also has experience in implementing Gender Transformative Norms programs. He has gathered a lot of experience in what works in engaging men and boys from his exposure in the social justice agenda in promoting a gender equitable life between males and females. He is currently serving in the MenEngage Africa Regional Steering Committee which is providing an oversight to 22 country networks. He has attended various trainings in countries like: Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda. He has facilitated in a number of countries like: India, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Malawi and Tanzania. As violence being
a learned behaviour, he believes it is his responsibility to help people unlearn it. His personal motto is “If violence against women and girls remains unchallenged violence against men and boys will be justified”.


** Highlights of the 16 Days of Activism from MenEngage Africa network on Twitter
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The masculinity, social and cultural beliefs built around men greatly increase #SGBV cases among men and boys. Society ignores and tags them as "cowards" when they come out to report. It's high time to listen to the male gender. #Time4Male ([link removed]) #16DaysOfActivism ([link removed])

DaysofActivism2022 "We must stand to protect the dignity of all humans by making deliberate efforts to end #GBV." - _@Dennis Onwuegbu Vice Chairperson, MenEngage Nig Network. ([link removed])

#internationalHumanRightsDay. 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐥𝐥. We stand against all human rights violations, including violence against women and girls. on this human rights day, join the world to #EndGBV ([link removed]) #EndWAWG. @rugbwa

Gender equality is the responsibility of all of us. It's time to ask ourselves what we can do to make a difference. During this period when organizations are focused on the fight against GBV, let's not forget to ask ourselves about our personal involvement #16JoursdActivisme ([link removed])
Visit MenEngage Africa ([link removed])

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