Ending Sexual Violence Together A strategic framework for Tearfund

Transcription

1 Ending Sexual Violence Together A strategic framework for Tearfund 1. Introduction to Tearfund Tearfund is a Christian relief and development agency building a global network of local churches to help eradicate poverty. We work to resource, train, inspire and advocate for 100,000 churches in their work to release 50 million people from material and spiritual poverty. Tearfund has 10 years experience of working through church-based partners in the response to sexual violence. Tearfund believes that the church should always be a place where social norms and attitudes can be challenged if they are causing harm. 2. An overview of Sexual Violence (SV) Sexual violence (SV) affects people in all communities, no matter what their class, race, religion or location. 1 Although data on sexual violence is lacking in most countries, recent regional estimates for Africa show that approximately 46% of women (15 years and older) have experienced either partner or non-partner physical or sexual violence at some time in their life. 2 SV occurs throughout the world, although in most countries there has been little research conducted on the problem. Due to the private nature of SV, and stigma and discrimination surrounding SV, accurately estimating the extent of the problem is difficult. It is not a new issue, although recent media and governmental focus is bringing it into the spotlight. SV has a profound impact on an individual s physical and mental health. As well as causing physical injury, it is associated with an increased risk of a range of sexual and reproductive health problems, with both immediate and long-term Photo caption: Members of the launch of a survivor network in Durban, South Africa. Nov 2013 Photo: Patricia Evans 1 Population Council. Sexual and gender based violence in Africa: Literature review. Nairobi: Kenya: Population Council;

2 consequences. Its impact on mental health can be as serious as its physical impact, and may be equally long lasting. Deaths following sexual violence may be as a result of suicide, HIV infection or murder the latter occurring either during a sexual assault or subsequently, as a murder of honour. Sexual violence can also profoundly affect the social wellbeing of victims; individuals are often stigmatised and ostracised by their families and others as a consequence. Sexual violence is defined as: Any sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act, unwanted sexual comments or advances, or acts to traffic, or otherwise directed, against a person s sexuality using coercion, by any person regardless of their relationship to the victim, in any setting, including but not limited to home and work. 3 SV is a form of gender based violence (GBV), which is violence that is directed against a person on the basis of gender or sex. 3. Tearfunds strategy Tearfunds began responding to sexual violence (SV) in What started as a pilot initiative has grown into a serious response with a wide range of partners, strategic allies and stakeholders across 6 countries to date, with plans to expand to a further 3 countries in Current focus countries are: Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Tanzania (with a focus on FGM/C) and South Africa. New countries will include Central African Republic, South Sudan and Haiti (tbc). In 2011, Tearfund founded an international Christian coalition committed to ending SV globally called We Will Speak Out (WWSO). The coalition has become a key network working with various stakeholders who acknowledge the expertise and experience that Tearfund and other coalition members have in working with faith groups in the area of sexual and gender based violence (SGBV). WWSO is a key aspect of Tearfund s response to SV. Tearfund s strategic framework has the following aims: Overall Goal: By 2018, end sexual violence in 150 communities across 15 countries. Purpose: Churches will play a key role in supporting survivors and ending sexual violence. Key Outcomes: 1. Faith communities will speak out and act 2. Churches become safe spaces 3. Survivor movements will influence policy and practice 4. Men and boys will be involved in preventing SV and promoting gender equality 5. Good practice responses to SV established in the humanitarian sector 2 WHO, LSHTM, MRC. Global and regional estimates of violence against women: Prevalence and health effects of intimate partner violence and non-partner sexual violence. WHO; WHO,

3 4. Progress to date OUTCOME 1: 468 Faith communities are speaking out and acting There is tremendous momentum among churches across the 6 countries Tearfund is currently involved in (Rwanda, Burundi, DRC, Tanzania, South Africa and Liberia). The Anglican Archbishops have been the key Champions in all countries except Liberia (where the Anglican church has a smaller presence). Church leaders in the countries span various denominations. Unlike the struggle we had with HIV in the early years, key stakeholders like the government, UN and other agencies are keen to work with religious leaders in addressing SV. Tearfund s key contribution has been in the following ways: As a catalyst, mobilising faith leaders and Champions at international, national and local level Establishing partnerships with UNAIDS and other key stakeholders as advisory members in the national responses Research into role of the church and the needs and priorities of survivors Developing a church SV resource and tool kit, integrating SV, including Female Genital Mutilation and Cutting (FGM/C) into church mobilisation processes to mobilise and train church leaders. Please refer to detailed information on national responses at Tearfund will be expanding this work into South Sudan and CAR over the next 6 months. Archbishop Henri Isingoma of DRC signing the WWSO pledge Photo: Maggie Sandilands/ Tearfund OUTCOME 2: Churches become safe spaces across 87 communities Churches are becoming safe spaces in 3 ways: For survivors to find care and support. For deep conversations and reflections on reshaping masculinities. For practical support to advocate for justice and thereby end impunity. Each Church explores what being a safe space means in their context, in response to what survivors are asking for. An example is in SA, Tearfund has become a member of the KZN provincial Government s Victim Empowerment Forum (VEF). This will help Tearfund facilitate relationships between key governmental departments and Churches in the communities so that an effective safety net can be 3

4 put in place to prevent SV and provide effective care for survivors. A document of case studies can be found on the WWSO website. These have been used in key meetings with donors and key stakeholders on board in Rwanda and Burundi thereby paving the way for in country funding partnerships. OUTCOME 3: 2 survivor movements involving 125 survivors will influence policy and practice A systematic mapping of survivor needs and priorities has been completed in two countries; South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), to inform context-specific responses. Survivor peer support groups are being formed and the groups are being mentored so that they can become powerful advocates shaping understanding and practical action in their communities. The first survivor movement was launched in Durban, South Africa, with 37 survivors and they broke their silence by speaking to Church leaders in November The Minister for Women, Children and people with Disabilities, Lulu Xingwana, committed to meeting with the survivors to hear their priorities. OUTCOME 4: 610 men and boys are involved in preventing SV and promoting gender equality Baseline studies on men, faith and concepts of masculinity, to understand the context for addressing the role of men and boys in prevention and response to SV and promotion of gender equitable relationships, were carried out in Rwanda, Burundi and DR Congo. 610 men and 623 women were part of this exercise. The information from these studies is being used to work with men and boys on context specific interventions focusing on positive masculinities. OUTCOME 5: Good practice responses to SV established in the humanitarian sector Tearfund is now beginning to pilot the integration of specific SV responses into humanitarian response. In 2013, Tearfund held a first meeting to explore interest among humanitarian actors on working with faith groups to integrate SV responses within emergencies. 21 global agencies participated in the meeting, expressing interest to work together. In May 2014, Tearfund organised a 3-day reflective process in Bangui, Central African Republic (CAR), which brought together different faith groups, local and international NGOs, UN agencies and representatives from government ministries and judiciary, to reflect on the issue of SV within the current conflict in CAR. Participants mapped current responses, identified gaps, and worked together to plan a stronger collaborative response. The Gender-based Violence sub-cluster in Bangui helped Tearfund to facilitate the workshop, ensuring coordination with existing actors and services. Tearfund plans to begin supporting survivor mapping and trainings with faith leaders in CAR in 2014, as well as expanding these pilot responses to South Sudan later in the year. 4

5 5. Strategic Partners Tearfund believes in the strength of partnerships, recognising the added value of coordination, diversity, reach and influence. With the credibility and track record built through its response to HIV (2005 to present), Tearfund has been able to develop these relationships to focus on SV, working with the following strategic partners: A. ANGLICAN COMMUNION The Communion brings strength, diversity and influence across many countries. As the founding member of the WWSO coalition, Tearfund works with the Communion, Archbishops and their wives in most affected countries. Tearfund supports the Archbishops in building a leadership initiative that mobilises other key faith leaders, and together they develop and implement a national plan of action. Tearfund also works to mobilise the wives of key denominational leaders across Africa who can explore deeper issues related to gender and the role women can play in ending SV. B. UN AGENCIES UNAIDS have been a very supportive ally in the work at both the international and national levels. They have been the convening partners bringing on board all other UN agencies. They are involved in the development of the national plans. They also support partners with resources and skills. Key aspects of partnership include: Speaking out and sharing examples of collaboration with faith groups Providing connections for advocacy and in country support Technical support for strategy development and research. Partner for in country launch events Support to access funding UNFPA is keen to engage with Tearfund in reshaping the overall strategy for mobilising faith leaders to end female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C). UNFPA hosted a stakeholder event with Tearfund for this purpose in Tanzania in Sept UNWomen is funding survivor mapping research at the national level in South Africa. Tearfund partner, the Anglican Province of Burundi, co-hosted a Burundi Governmental Meeting at the UN CSW in March 2013 on the integral role of the church in ending SV in Burundi. C. WE WILL SPEAK OUT COALITION Website: Tearfund was a key founder of the coalition in 2011, mobilising the Anglican Communion, Restored, Christian Aid and UNAIDS to launch a collaborative faith initiative working to end sexual violence. We Will Speak Out (WWSO) is now a global coalition of Christian-based NGOs, churches and organizations, supported by an alliance of individuals, who together commit themselves to see the end of sexual violence across communities around the world. The coalition partnership works together to harness efforts to prevent and eliminate sexual violence by supporting 5

6 the church to speak out against sexual violence, show strong and positive leadership and become a safe place for people to go to. The coalition now comprises 17 members and strategic partners, with sister coalitions in the USA, South Africa and DRC. Tearfund holds the role of the Steering Group Chair and Secretariat. WWSO Vision: Transformed, just and reconciled communities where the lives of men and women, girls and boys are no longer shattered by gender based violence. WWSO Goal by end of 2016: Church communities and leaders male and female are proactively working with survivors and others, to address effectively the causes and consequences of sexual violence, including within the church. The UK High Commissioner for South Africa, Baroness Scotland, and Minister for Gender South Africa signed WWSO Pledge cards on International Women s Day 2014, in Cape Town, South Africa. Photo: Veena O Sullivan, Tearfund D.SEXUAL VIOLENCE RESEARCH INITIATIVE (SVRI) The coalition to date has come together primarily to work on key events like UNCSW 2013, International AIDS Conference 2013 and the ESVC Global Summit The website offers a platform to share learning and resources. The SVRI is a global research initiative, pulling together all the research done in the area of SV. They are a powerful, uniting force that hosts a conference every two years where papers are launched and partnerships are brokered. Tearfund has a good relationship with SVRI, and has been asked to facilitate the Faith forum. In September 2013, an online faith forum was launched within the Sexual violence research initiative (SVRI). This is moderated by Tearfund. In October 2013, Tearfund co-hosted a meeting with UNAIDS & UNFPA to develop good practice standards for the faith community in SV. E. SONKE GENDER JUSTICE Sonke are a South African NGO working across various countries, with an incredible track record in innovative work on issues of masculinities. Sonke have worked with faith communities on SV issues and developed a really strong process to bring men on board. Sonke support Tearfund partners and churches explore positive and harmful masculinity constructs and explore a reshaping of positive male role models. 6

7 F. JOINT LEARNING INITIATIVE (JLI) Website: The Joint Learning Initiative (JLI) is a ground-breaking international collaboration working to develop robust, practical evidence and actionable policy and programmatic recommendations on the role of local faith communities (LFCs) in community health and development. Tearfund (Veena O Sullivan) is the co-chair of the newly launched Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) Learning Hub within the JLI. This is a strategic role, coordinating learning around SGBV responses, with the potential to build and share an improved evidence base for the role of faith. G. UK GOVERNMENT The British government, with its commitment to ending violence against women and girls, is a key and valued strategic partner for Tearfund. Tearfund works with both the Department for International Development (DfID) and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). Tearfund s work with local partners in DRC has been funded by DfID s Global Poverty Action Fund (GPAF) and Challenge fund, and Tearfund is now a recipient of FCO funding administered as part of William Hague s Prevention of Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI). This project focuses on mobilising faith groups in the DRC, working through the Anglican Church of Congo, and is strengthening Tearfund s work and relationship with the FCO both in Kinshasa and in London. The launch of We Will Speak Out DRC was attended by the UK Ambassador in Kinshasa, and in February 2014, the Archbishop of Canterbury and UK Minister for Africa, Mark Simmonds visited the PSVI project, engaging with the potential role of the church in prevention and response to sexual violence in conflict-affected communities. WWSO worked in partnership with the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office to consult on the Ending Sexual Violence in Conflict (ESVC) Global Summit in June 2014, particularly for facilitating events around meaningfully engaging faith leaders. H. OVERSEAS GOVERNMENTS Tearfund works in partnership with national governments to ensure that church strategies and implemented programmes support the national governments Action Plans and strategy to end violence against women. This includes working with the Ministry of Gender, Ministry of Justice and also independent commissions, such as the Commission for Gender Equality in South Africa which funded and partnered with Tearfund to launch a survivor movement in South Africa. 7

8 Tearfund HIV & SV Unit Contact: Veena O Sullivan veena.osullivan@tearfund.org UK phone number: +44 (0) All Tearfund reports are available to download at: 8