Faith to Action Network recently took part in a pivotal Consultative Meeting with Religious and Traditional Leaders on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) in Eastern and Southern Africa. Held in Cape Town and hosted with support from Equality Now, UN Women, and the European Union, the meeting brought together influential voices from across the region to develop joint strategies for tackling harmful practices and advancing gender justice.
At the heart of the discussion was a critical question: How can religious and traditional leaders play a central role in ending VAWG and advancing the Maputo Protocol?
Our presence at the meeting aligned with one of Faith to Action Network’s key thematic areas Women’s Rights and Gender Justice. We joined regional and global actors to explore best practices, challenges, and shared commitments to addressing gender-based violence in culturally sensitive yet transformative ways.
The gathering created space to:
- Amplify the voices of faith and traditional authorities who are advocating for change in their communities.
- Highlight the importance of cross-sector collaboration with civil society and women’s rights organisations.
- Share Faith to Action Network’s experience and offer leadership in developing a Policy Brief and contributing to Guidelines for engaging traditional and religious leaders in VAWG advocacy.
We also proposed an initiative to collate resources and evidence on faith and traditional leader engagement in the fight against VAWG an idea welcomed by partners for potential future support.
This meeting was more than just a dialogue it was a call to action. It reaffirmed our commitment to fostering faith-rooted and culturally grounded approaches to ending violence against women and girls, and to expanding strategic partnerships for greater impact.
