03/09/2026
From prison walls to an international platform. 🌍✨
We are proud to announce that Lerato Manaka, social justice advocate and CEO of the Modiehi Mongale Foundation, has been selected to present at the 9th International Conference on Gender & Sexuality 2026 in Chiang Mai, Thailand, this coming October!
Her paper, titled “From Stigma to Second Chances: A Gender-Responsive Approach to the Reintegration of Formerly Incarcerated Women in South Africa,” takes South Africa’s second-chance conversation to the global stage. It shines a critical light on the challenges women face post-release—from social exclusion and broken family relationships to unemployment—and advocates for genuine rehabilitation beyond correctional gates.
> "A prison sentence may have an end date, but its consequences can continue long after release. If we are serious about rehabilitation, we must also be serious about what happens when the prison gate opens." — Lerato Manaka
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At the Modiehi Mongale Foundation, we believe that a person's past should inform their story, but never permanently determine their future. We look forward to contributing to global discussions on gender-responsive justice, social reintegration, and restoring human dignity.
Read the full media release below. 👇
📍 Conference: 9th International Conference on Gender & Sexuality 2026 (Chiang Mai, Thailand)
📅 Dates: 22–23 October 2026
🌐 Learn More / Media Enquiries: www.modiehimongale.org.za | [email protected]