Ending Gender-Based Violence in Faith Communities and Broader Society
South Africa continues to battle the pervasive scourge of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), which has plagued families, communities, and society for far too long. Dubbing it a pandemic, President Cyril Ramaphosa also acknowledged the critical role of faith communities in addressing this crisis. As institutions with deep roots in South African society, faith-based organisations can be powerful allies in the fight to end GBV, especially when aligned with national efforts such as the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NSP on GBVF).
Faith Communities as Agents of Change
Faith communities have always played a crucial role in shaping societal values and norms. Whether through religious teachings, communal support structures, or the moral leadership of pastors, imams, rabbis, and other religious leaders, these institutions are trusted by many South Africans. This makes them uniquely positioned to influence attitudes and behaviours regarding gender and violence.
However, faith communities have also historically been spaces where harmful gender norms were perpetuated. In some instances, interpretations of religious texts have justified male dominance, submission of women, or tolerance of abuse in the name of family unity – all called spiritual abuse. This must change if we are to truly end GBV. Religious leaders must now become champions of equality, safety, and respect for all, particularly women and children, who are often the most vulnerable to violence.
The Journey towards a GBVF Free South Africa
The formation of the Faith Action Collective to End GBV in 2020, with We Will Speak Out South Africa (WWSOSA), a body that since its formation in 2013, has been endeavouring to unite the faith sector in South Africa in the fight against GBV, as a coordinating Secretariat, was the start of the build up towards a unifying commitment to mobilise and equip the faith sector to address GBV more effectively. This was preceded by the first National Presidential Summit on GBV in 2019 where the faith sector was glaringly invisible. Faith Action and WWSOSA submissions facilitated the greater recognition of the faith sector as an important player in the fight against GBVF and it was therefore highly visible in the 2nd Presidential Summit on GBVF in 2022. November 2023 saw the launch of a Joint Interfaith Statement of Commitment after almost two years of broad-based consultations amongst eight diverse religious traditions, a first of its kind in South Africa. The statement of commitment’s Signature Campaign has to date acquired 700 signatures and has a unifying agenda geared towards mobilising widespread support, commitment and action to promote the NSP on GBVF and address socio-justice issues without the baggage of religious boundaries.
The Launch of Strategy 2030
At a significant event attended by representatives from government, faith communities, civil society and NGO’s, the Interfaith GBV Prevention and Mitigation Strategy 2030 was launched in Johannesburg on 3 October 2024. The Strategy is based on national, regional and international policies and frameworks including the NSP on GBVF, the Comprehensive National Prevention Strategy ( CNPS), the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development and CEDAW and the Sustainable Development Goals to name a few. With three pathways: Transforming Norms, Movement Building and Localising Reach- Broadening Impact, the strategy hopes to increase the number of faith communities who take accountability and act together to end GBVF. Another hoped for outcome is to realise concrete evidence of change through transformed religio-cultural discourses and practices that promote gender justice; a growth in the number of gender and GBV competent faith communities and the number of credible faith actors for justice. This work will be buttressed by a robust monitoring and evaluation framework and will be implemented through short and medium term action plans actioned through sub-committees.
Online Community of Praxis (www.interfaithendgbv.org.za)
In another innovative move, an online community building space was launched to support the implementation of the strategy as well as ongoing education, knowledge and information sharing, interaction and engagement around all issues GBV. Called Interfaith End GBV, this custom-made safe space will be used for awareness building, education, meaningful engagement and resource sharing etc. Paired with this initiative, was the formation of an In Person Resource Team with representatives from all faith groups in the Faith Collective, to promote and nurture relational activism through the provision of bespoke physical support whenever it is needed.
The National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide
In 2020, South Africa launched NSP on GBVF, a comprehensive framework aimed at addressing GBV in all sectors of society, including faith-based organisations. The NSP provides a roadmap to strengthen prevention, protection, and response systems against GBV, with the goal of ultimately eradicating this violence from South African communities.
The NSP has six key pillars, each of which can guide faith communities in their response to GBV:
1. Accountability, Coordination, and Leadership
Faith communities must commit to becoming accountable in their efforts to address GBV. Religious leaders should set clear policies and guidelines that hold both leadership and congregants accountable for abusive behaviour. Collaboration with local government structures and civil society groups can help ensure that faith organisations are aligned with national efforts.
2. Prevention and Rebuilding Social Cohesion
Faith leaders are powerful influencers when it comes to rebuilding social norms. They can preach and teach against violence, addressing patriarchal beliefs and advocating for gender equality. Campaigns that include sermons, workshops, and community outreach can foster a culture of respect, consent, and dignity within faith spaces.
3. Justice, Safety, and Protection
Religious organisations can create safe spaces for survivors of GBV, providing immediate shelter or connecting them to legal and medical resources. Churches, mosques, and synagogues can work closely with the police and justice system to ensure that perpetrators are held accountable, encouraging survivors to speak out without fear of stigma.
4. Response, Care, and Support
Faith-based communities are often trusted by survivors of abuse. Churches and other religious organisations can develop support networks that include counselling, spiritual care, and practical assistance for those who are healing from the trauma of GBV. Partnerships with health services and trauma counsellors can be instrumental in this response.
5. Economic Empowerment
Economic dependency often traps victims in abusive relationships. Faith-based organisations can be part of the solution by providing skills training, financial literacy programmes, and entrepreneurship opportunities to survivors. Empowering women economically is a key step in breaking the cycle of abuse. Faith spaces often have the wherewithal to provide holistic support to their members.
6. Research and Information Management
Faith-based communities can contribute to data collection by documenting cases of GBV and providing insights into how violence affects their congregations. They can also participate in research efforts to better understand the role of religion in either perpetuating or reducing GBV and ensure strict monitoring and evaluation standards so that practices that no-longer serve their communities can be stopped and good practice encouraged and strengthened. This data will be critical in refining national strategies moving forward.
The Role of Men and Boys in Faith Communities
One of the most significant areas of focus in ending GBV within faith communities is the active engagement of men and boys through transformative masculinity programmes. For too long, patriarchal attitudes leading to toxic masculinity have placed the burden of solving GBV on women, despite the fact that the majority of perpetrators are men. Faith communities need to challenge toxic masculinity and cultural and traditional practices that undermine the dignity of women and girls; teach about new ways of being and cultivate male champions for gender equality.
Religious teachings can be reinterpreted liberatively to emphasise that true leadership and strength come not from control or dominance but from love, care, and mutual respect. Faith communities can also create mentorship programmes where men learn to support each other in rejecting violence and harmful gender norms.
Moving Forward: A Call to Action
Ending GBV is not just a government responsibility but a moral imperative for all sectors of society, including faith communities. The NSP on GBVF provides a clear framework, which has been interpreted into Strategy 2030, that faith leaders and communities must action in their contexts to create real and lasting change. By taking an active role in the implementation of this strategy, the Faith Collective can become catalysts for sustainable healing, justice, and equality in South Africa.
The strength of the Interfaith Sector GBV Prevention and Mitigation Strategy (2024-2030) lies in its inclusivity – obtained through broad-based consultation; a willingness by all participating interfaith stakeholders to be accountable and take responsibility for preventing GBF, and provide holistic support to survivors. It is hoped that the resistance experienced from some quarters will be reduced through conscientisation and education and that many more faith groups will align with the NSP on GBVF and embody the values of compassion, justice, and peace that lie at the heart of all religious traditions.
It is time for faith communities, united by their shared values of dignity for all, love, oneness, equity, peace, justice and mercy, to lead the charge in ending GBVF, building a safer and more equitable South Africa for all.
