A Call to Act: Engaging Religious Leaders and Communities on Addressing Gender-Based Violence and HIV

This advocacy guide was conceived and developed as the result of a focus on building the capacity of religious leaders, including women of faith, to address gender-based violence (GBV) in their communities, particularly in relation to HIV. This publication was produced for review by the United States (US) Agency for International Development (USAID), funded and prepared by the Health Policy Initiative, Task Order 1.

"The guide can be used by religious leaders, communities, and institutions to learn about GBV and HIV, why they should address the issues, and how they can address them through specific activities and approaches. Secular organizations working on GBV and HIV also can use this guide to find examples of how to collaborate with religious leaders, communities, and institutions. Thus, this guide helps to take an issue that traditionally is kept silent and private - particularly in religious communities - and places it on the agenda of religions throughout the world as they seek to address HIV in an effective and holistic manner."

"Religious leaders possess an ordained role of leadership in their institutions and communities, serving as role models of care and compassion. As religions around the world speak to the inherent sacredness of human life, religious leaders and their communities have the moral authority to raise awareness about GBV and a moral responsibility to prevent violence, provide support and care, and strive to transform societal or religious norms or practices that perpetuate such violence and vulnerability to HIV. While leaders can call upon these communities to assist women who are facing GBV and at risk for HIV, they also can offer support, counseling, and guidance to those who perpetrate violence as the voice of accountability in communities. Leaders also can take advantage of faith networks and work across faiths to remind communities that GBV violates dignity and human rights and that their faiths call upon them to be merciful, caring, and loving toward all....

Since women are not always in formal positions of authority in religious institutions, they often are overlooked. However, religious women are effective leaders in their own right. They often are very active in religious organizations and institutions through different avenues. They play critical roles in women’s faith networks and organizations, often providing direct services to the community. Women may have a personal understanding and stake in addressing issues such as GBV and HIV. For example, in their roles as caretakers, women often provide support and care to those experiencing GBV or suffering from HIV. Since women are a crucial group of advocates and implementers in addressing GBV and HIV in their religious communities, they must be included in any institution- or community-led efforts."

The guide discusses the issues of GBV and how it is related to HIV. It covers advocacy and mobilisation strategies incorporating what religious communities and leaders can do, including:

• Educate within religious institutions, communities, and across faiths
• Offer spiritual support to those affected by GBV and HIV 
• Provide individual counseling 
• Provide group counseling 
• Provide couples' counseling 
• Provide GBV and HIV prevention and support programmes 
• Work with communities 
• Work with health providers 
• Commit publicly to addressing GBV and HIV 
• Institutionalise support for addressing GBV and HIV

The annexes include samples drawn from: various religious texts; agendas for training, forums, and workshops; case studies; illustrations of institutional commitment; recommendations to leaders and imams; press release samples; and activities.