World Vision Rwanda on Sunday, July 16, hosted a pre-conference event ahead of the Women Deliver Conference to share knowledge and experiences on the best faith based approaches to prevent, mitigate and respond to Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV).

The event was attended by World Vision International, Episcopal Relief, Tearfund, Lutheran World, and Vista Hermosa Foundation alongside various faith actors and partners

ALSO READ: Kigali hosts global forum on gender equality and social inclusion

In her remarks, Pauline Okumu, National Director of World Vision Rwanda, highlighted the influential role of faith actors.

"The strength of faith actors lies not solely in their capacity to offer comfort and guidance to individuals, but also in their potential to shape attitudes, confront challenges, challenge harmful norms, and foster respect for the inherent dignity of all human beings. At World Vision, we actively collaborate with field and religious actors, building their capacity through our programs. Together, we create transformative spaces where survivors find support, communities receive education, and perpetrators are held accountable for their actions."

ALSO READ: Kigali hosts global forum on gender equality and social inclusion

Dr. Jacqueline Ogega, Senior Director of Gender Equality and Social Inclusion at World Vision US, emphasized the urgency of addressing SGBV.

"Our aim in convening is not simply to host an event in isolation. Rather, we have been working together for several months and years to address the pressing issue of sexual and gender-based violence. It is a pervasive problem, akin to a pandemic, and its magnitude only amplifies in times of conflicts.

Hence, our objectives are clear: we must firmly reject the prevalence of gender-based violence in our communities and societies without taking decisive action. Many of us have personally experienced the impact of gender-based violence, particularly during our childhood, which uprooted people from their homes," Ogega said.

She urged the need to address the issue of sexual violence, including incidents such as rape and child defilement, "which continue to occur within our communities. We cannot turn a blind eye to these atrocities; instead, we must confront them head-on and put an end to the actions of the perpetrators," she said.

Faith-Based Approaches to Gender Justice

Reverend Bafana Kumalo, Co-Executive Director of Sonke Gender Justice Network and Lutheran World Federation (LWF) partner, shared the Lutheran World Federation&039;s commitment to gender justice and women's empowerment. Their gender justice policy, adopted in 2013, serves as a framework for equality between women and men. Gender justice is integrated into all Lutheran Welfare Federation programs, and churches are encouraged to prioritize tackling gender-based violence at all levels.

ALSO READ: World Vision building stronger families: Investing in the well-being of children

Reverend Jeanne-Françoise Ndimubakunzi, Coordinator for Diocesan Justice, Peace, and Gender Department for Service Anglican pour le Development Communautaire (SADC) and ERD partner, highlighted the issue of gender-based violence in Burundi.

"SADC takes an inclusive approach to development, led by faith leaders who challenge oppressive cultural norms. They strive to reinterpret biblical messages to encourage inclusivity, fight negative masculinity, and empower women economically through savings and credit circles. Additionally, SADC provides a safe house offering psychological and judicial support to survivors while holding perpetrators accountable," Ndimubakunzi said.

The pre-conference facilitated knowledge-sharing among faith actors from various countries. Participants shared practices and strategies implemented in their respective communities to address SGBV. Group discussions allowed delegates to express ideas on how faith can contribute to ending SGBV.

Challenges, such as male engagement and access to churches, were also highlighted. The event emphasized the importance of collective action and the potential for meaningful change.