By Gita Dickinson
“Gender-based violence is a pandemic that is tearing our society apart.” — Cyril Ramaphosa
Human Rights Day in South Africa is not only a moment of remembrance—it is a mirror held up to the present. It asks, with urgency: Whose rights are being denied today?
Across the country, the answer remains deeply troubling.
Gender-based violence (GBV) is not distant or abstract. It is woven into daily life—present in homes, streets, and even places of worship. It is heard in prayer requests that only hint at deeper pain, and in the resilience of survivors carrying unimaginable burdens.
Despite its prevalence, GBV must never be normalised. It is not inevitable. It is a national disaster—one that continues to strip women and children of their fundamental rights to safety, dignity, and life.
Within this reality, faith communities find themselves at a critical crossroads.
Faith spaces hold the potential to be places of healing, guidance, and transformation. Yet, they have also, at times, been spaces of silence. Harmful beliefs about gender and power have gone unchallenged. Survivors have not always received the support they deserve. Many leaders, without adequate tools or training, have struggled to respond effectively.
And yet, change is happening.
Across South Africa, faith leaders are beginning to ask more difficult questions. Sermons are shifting. Conversations once considered too uncomfortable are now being opened. There is a growing courage to say: “Silence is no longer an option.”
This is where meaningful transformation begins.
Through the Faith Leaders Gender Transformation Programme (FLGTP), faith leaders are being equipped to respond with greater awareness, compassion, and accountability. The programme supports leaders to:
- Understand and address the root causes of GBV
- Challenge harmful norms within faith and community contexts
- Support survivors in safe and affirming ways
- Lead communities toward justice, dignity, and equality
This Human Rights Day is an opportunity not only to reflect—but to act.
NEW AFRICA FUND CHALLENGE – MATCH FUNDING CAMPAIGN
A goal has been set to raise R80,000 (USD $5,000) to expand and sustain this vital work.
Each contribution helps equip more faith leaders. Each leader reached has the potential to influence an entire community. Each community transformed becomes a safer space for those most at risk.
Our contributions together can make a difference.
Ending GBV in South Africa requires more than awareness—it calls for a deep shift in values, beliefs, and everyday practices. Faith leaders are uniquely positioned to lead this shift.
On this Human Rights Day, the question is not only what is remembered, but what is chosen next.
Will communities remain silent?
Or will they become part of a growing movement for justice and change?
👉 Support the work here:
https://give-usa.keela.co/we-will-speak-out-south-africa-donate-page
Together, a future can be built where human rights are not only spoken about—but truly lived.
#faithingenderjustice
