The Faith Action to End GBV Collective comprises faith-based organisations and individuals working together and in their own spaces to create a South Africa free from gender injustice and GBV. The Collective seeks to create an impactful, unified faith-based response to GBV by educating and equipping faith communities to understand the underlying drivers of GBVF in individuals, organisations and in the community, so they act to change themselves and their faith institutions, and bring change to their communities.

The way the media treats cases of abuse and rape shapes the way the public understand, think and respond to cases. And in turn, the media are mere representatives and mirrors of the public.

Faith leaders have a key role to play in turning the tide of GBVF. To do so this involves looking within, reflecting on self and reflecting on the faith context. It involves being equipped with theoretical knowledge, sound theological foundations and a sense of growing understanding of one’s own gendered history and how it has influenced one’s gender positionality. But this work at individual level has limited impact if it does not translate into institutional changes, and so faith leaders have to be equipped to transform and equip their own faith congregation or whole institution.

The communications strategy was to shift the faith narrative to replace patriarchal discourses in South Africa with those that promote gender equality, mutuality and a call to end GBV. The aim is to contribute to the mission of the Faith Action to End GBV Collective to conscientise and equip the faith sector to engage with integrity and impact to end GBV.

At the request of multiple church leaders, We Will Speak Out SA (WWSOSA) included in the Solidarity Fund project a training programme to equip the faith sector to accompany a GBV ‘victim’ through the journey of becoming a survivor, this project has equipped members of churches, faith institutions and FBOs as First Responders and to offer ongoing counselling and pastoral support to GBV survivors.