NAIROBI, Kenya — Female faith leaders have been challenged to take a more prominent leadership role in the fight against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), with stakeholders describing them as critical agents of change capable of transforming communities, supporting survivors and challenging harmful social norms.
The call was made during a high-level dialogue in Nairobi themed “Elevating Female Faith Leaders’ Voices in Ending Gender-Based Violence,” which brought together religious leaders, development partners and gender advocates to explore ways of strengthening faith-based responses to GBV.
The forum was convened by the International Gender Champions (IGC) Nairobi Hub in partnership with World Vision East Africa Regional Office and Plan International ahead of Pan-African Women’s Day on July 31.
Participants said women of faith occupy influential positions within communities as pastors, teachers, counsellors, mentors and caregivers, yet their voices remain underrepresented in policy-making and decision-making spaces despite their close engagement with women, children and families affected by violence.
Faith Leaders Seen as Key to Ending GBV
The meeting highlighted the urgent need to leverage trusted community voices in tackling GBV at both the national and grassroots levels, arguing that prevention requires collaboration between governments, faith institutions, civil society, development partners, the private sector and communities.
Speaking during the forum, Lilian Dodzo, Regional Leader and Vice President of World Vision International for the East Africa Region, said lasting change begins when survivors are heard and communities collectively reject violence.
“Every time a woman finds the courage to speak, it is because someone believed in her and was willing to sit down and listen. Every time a girl stays in school instead of becoming a child bride, every time a survivor finds healing instead of shame, and every time a family chooses respect over violence, we change more than one life. We change the trajectory of generations.”
Dodzo said ending GBV requires collective action from governments, faith communities, civil society organisations, development partners, women, men and young people working together to challenge harmful cultural norms and promote dignity and equality.
Alarming Statistics Highlight Urgency
The discussions were informed by global and continental data illustrating the scale of violence against women and girls.
According to figures presented during the forum, nearly one in three women globally—an estimated 840 million women and girls—have experienced physical or sexual violence during their lifetime.
Participants also noted that approximately 34 per cent of girls in Sub-Saharan Africa are affected by child marriage, while more than 144 million women and girls across the continent have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM).
The meeting heard that such statistics underscore the need for stronger investment in community-based prevention efforts led by trusted religious leaders.
Women Must Be Included in Decision-Making
Speakers stressed that female faith leaders should not only provide pastoral care but also participate meaningfully in shaping policies and institutional responses to gender inequality and violence.
Rev. Dr. Linda Ochola, Senior Coordinator for Church Partnerships at International Justice Mission (IJM), said Africa still has significant ground to cover in achieving gender equality.
Citing the Africa Gender Index 2023, she noted that the continent has achieved only 50.3 per cent of the progress required to attain gender equality, while women’s economic parity declined from 61 per cent in 2019 to 58.2 per cent in 2023.
“These figures show that we still have a long way to go. We need to do more to ensure women have a stronger voice in shaping the decisions that affect their lives and communities.”
Ochola also urged faith institutions to distinguish between matters suitable for mediation and criminal offences such as GBV, emphasising that survivors deserve access to justice through the appropriate legal processes.
Faith Institutions Urged to Support Survivors
Participants called on religious institutions to establish confidential reporting mechanisms and strengthen referral systems to ensure survivors of violence receive appropriate support and protection.
They argued that survivor experiences should inform how faith communities develop prevention programmes and pastoral responses.
Dr. Sheikh Hasan Kenyomari, Chairman of Muslim Persons of Africa, called for greater representation of women in religious leadership and governance structures.
“We must move beyond simply having a woman’s name on a committee or leadership structure and ensure women have a meaningful voice in decision-making.”
He said women should be given opportunities to serve in leadership positions, including as Kadis and members of mosque committees, noting that they are best placed to articulate issues affecting women within their communities.
Shaping Africa’s Young Generation
The forum also focused on the influence faith leaders can have on Africa’s youthful population.
With nearly 60 per cent of Africans below the age of 25, participants said female religious leaders have a unique opportunity to promote healthy relationships, gender equality and non-violence among young people.
Plan International Regional Director for the Middle East, Eastern and Southern Africa, Hajir Maalim, said positive role models are essential in shaping future generations.
“The values young people develop today will shape the Africa we live in tomorrow. We need to ensure they have positive role models who can help them understand that respect and equality are not optional, and that violence has no place in our families or communities.”
Renewed Commitment Ahead of Pan-African Women’s Day
The dialogue comes as African governments strengthen efforts to eliminate violence against women and girls through the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (AU CEVAWG).
World Vision International said it has continued working with faith leaders across East Africa through programmes such as Channels of Hope and Becoming One, which promote positive masculinity, strengthen families, challenge harmful social norms and support survivors of violence.
As stakeholders prepare to mark Pan-African Women’s Day on July 31, participants said empowering female faith leaders will be critical to building safer communities, strengthening survivor support systems and accelerating progress towards ending gender-based violence across Kenya and the wider African continent.