Getting dirty: Working with Faith Leaders to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence

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Notes

1. In this article we use the general terms “faith” and “faith communities,” in order to include varied and various forms of belief. “Faith” refers is the human belief or trust in some form of transcendent reality. Religion is identified as the institutionalised system of beliefs and practices that a person holds regarding the supernatural realm (Lunn 2009). The term “religion” will only be used when referring specifically to an institutionalised system of faith. “Faith communities” are understood to refer to a single group of regular congregants focused around a meeting place, a religious denomination, or a collective term for people who profess widely varying beliefs and practices but are linked by a common identification as believers (Karam et al. 2015). Thus, a church or a mosque, or any other type of institution often labelled “religious,” will be referred to under this term. The term “faith-based organisation” (FBO) is used only in those instances where the faith-based institution under discussion operates more formally. Ferris (2005, 311) defines FBOs as having one or more of the following: “affiliation with a religious body; a mission statement with explicit reference to religious values; financial support from religious sources; and/or a governance structure where selection of board members or staff is based on religious beliefs or affiliation and/or decision-making processes based on religious values.”

2. We use the term “gender-based violence”, rather than “sexual and gender-based violence” (SGBV) so as to ensure that no false hierarchies in the types of violence are proposed. We emphasise, however, that sexual violence is included as a form of violence in the general term “gender-based violence.”

3. The IMPACT programme (IMproving Parent And Child ouTcomes) is a comprehensive approach to reducing vertical transmission of HIV and maternal and infant mortality. It works through local FBOs engaged in community development and HIV work, who mobilise churches and communities. Mother Buddies targeted vulnerable women in local communities at greatest risk of maternal and infant mortality. Mother Buddies followed a prescribed schedule of eight visits, and were supported by a mobile phone system that provided information, an appointment reminder service, and data collection facilities.

4. Note that WV’s COH program emerges from a model developed by CABSA.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Elisabet le Roux

Elisabet le Roux is Research Director at the Unit for Religion and Development Research at Stellenbosch University. She is a faith and development expert, with a particular focus on sexual and gender-based violence (GBV). Her additional areas of expertise include GBV during armed conflict, patriarchy within faith communities, and interfaith conflict.

Neil Kramm

Neil Kramm is a researcher at the Unit for Religion and Development Research at Stellenbosch University. He combines his research interest in the intersect between military and civilian life, with a focus on GBV.

Nigel Scott

Nigel Scott has worked in the development sector for over 20 years and is a director of Gamos (a consultancy agency). His principal field of interest is understanding attitudes and behaviour among the poor, and applying statistical techniques to qualitative studies as part of mixed methods research methodologies.

Maggie Sandilands

Maggie Sandilands is the Technical Lead for Sexual Violence in Humanitarian Response for Tearfund. She coordinates Tearfund’s SGBV work in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Central African Republic (CAR) and Middle East Region (Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq).

Lizle Loots

Lizle Loots is a Sociologist and holds a Master’s degree in Gender Studies. Currently a research consultant in the women, peace and security sector, she previously served as public health researcher under the leadership of the South African Medical Research Council and The Sexual Violence Research Initiative.

Jill Olivier

Jill Olivier is a Senior Lecturer and Research Coordinator at the University of Cape Town in the School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Health Policy and Systems Division. She is the Director of the International Religious Health Assets Programme (IRHAP), and holds a PhD in Development Sociology.

Diana Arango

Diana Arango is a Senior Gender-based Violence and Development Specialist at the World Bank, and has an MSc from the London School of Economics in Anthropology and Development. She has over 10 years of experience working on development issues including GBV. Diana currently serves as co-Chair of the Sexual and Gender Based Violence Hub for the Joint Learning Initiative on Local Faith Communities.

Veena O’Sullivan

Veena O’Sullivan is the Team Leader for the Sexual Violence and Peace Building team at Tearfund, UK, focusing on developing evidence-based responses to sexual violence across Africa. Veena is also the founder and Chair of We Will Speak Out, and co-Chair of the Sexual and Gender Based Violence Hub for the Joint Learning Initiative on Local Faith Communities.