Faith leaders join forces to declare gender-based violence a spiritual crisis

IN A SIGNIFICANT step towards addressing the rampant issue of gender-based violence (GBV), faith leaders from diverse backgrounds recently united, declaring GBV a spiritual crisis that warranted urgent collective action.

This declaration emerged from a three-hour special interfaith programme hosted by Lotus FM, coinciding with the global 16 Days of Activism against GBVF. 

The collaboration brought together Hindu, Christian, Muslim, Baha'i, Buddhist, and traditional African perspectives. Partners included the South African Hindu Maha Sabha, the KwaZulu-Natal Interreligious Council, We Will Speak Out South Africa (WWSOSA), and the Faith Action Collective to End GBV.

Speakers, including faith leaders, activists, academics, and survivors, addressed the systemic nature of GBV, emphasising that it is not merely a social matter or a national disaster, but a crisis affecting society as a whole, as well as a spiritual issue.

Nompilo Gcwensa, Chair of the Phephisa Survivors Network, explained that violation attacked  the spirit, disconnecting it from God, making restoration a vital role for the faith sector in the healing process. 

With 85% of South Africans identifying as religious, the GBV statistics, said Veena Lutchman, a present on Lotus FM, "are occurring under our watch as faith communities". 

Canon Daniela Gennrich, Coordinator of WWSOSA and the Faith Action Collective, said the faith sector was perhaps the best placed to turn the tide due to its influence and ubiquitous presence in all communities. However, she acknowledged that while positive work was under way, the overall record of the faith sector “has not always been good so far”.

Moulana Mohamed Rafeek Shah said: "We must educate our sons, protect women, intervene when we see abuse, support survivors, not silence them, and we must report offenders and not hide behind religion and culture."

The collective affirmed that silence in the face of abuse was unequivocally forbidden - deemed "haram", "sin" and against the will of God.

Sabina Besesar, an executive member of the South African Hindu Maha Sabha, stressed that accountability needed to be at the core of the work of religious institutions and leaders, requiring proactive steps to transform their own internal structures and practices.

A common call was to challenge interpretations of sacred texts that perpetuate abuse and amplify those that are lifegiving.

Moving beyond discussion, the participating groups committed to several concrete steps:

1. Serve as safe havens: Places of worship must function as places of refuge and safe spaces where all persons are included, can heal and can thrive.

2. Develop accountability structures: This includes establishing safe-guarding policies, sanctioning all forms of abuse of power, and training leaders and members on preventing and mitigating GBV.

3. Reclaim sacred texts: The sector must collectively challenge the misuse of scripture (spiritual abuse) that justifies GBV and ensure scriptures are applied in practice to shape behaviour and transform hearts.

4. Create spaces for mutual learning and join action: Customised in-person training and mutual learning opportunities were seen as vital, for faith leaders and activists to equip themselves to lead concrete actions in their local faith contexts.

5. Advocate for adequate funding: Sustained action requires funding, and some speakers spoke of the urgent need for a systematic and credible national funding mechanism that reached local community initiatives.

The participating faith communities resolved to continue building a united, active interfaith collective for mutual support and accountability. Through their shared hopes and ideals, acknowledging shortcomings, and committing to decisive action, they aim to establish Ubuntu across South Africa's diversity and cultivate a culture of peace nationwide. 

Alvin Pillay, the Programmes Manager at Lotus FM, said this was a historic moment for the station it was the first interfaith programme in its 42-year history. 

For further information, see: [email protected], [email protected], : www.wwsosa.org.za, www.interfaithendgbv.org.za

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