Violence Against Women in Sub-Saharan Africa

Changes to the way domestic violence is handled by the criminal justice system

The report proposes the following changes to the way that the criminal justice systems of many African countries handle domestic violence cases:

• 
  Victims of domestic violence should be permitted and encouraged to seek redress based upon general concepts of constitutional and human rights.
  

• 
  Rehabilitation and behavior modification initiatives should be incorporated into treatment programs for abusers, but should not substitute for criminal penalties.
  

• 
  National governments should incorporate standardized training of police, judges, prosecutors, and health-care workers to improve their ability to recognize and treat victims of sexual and domestic violence.
  

• 
  National legislation and funding should include victim support services that address short- and long-term medical, psychological, and practical needs.
  

• 
  Awareness programs should be gender- and age-inclusive to mobilize entire communities against gender-based violence.
  

Annexure 5: Shifting Cultural Norms

This is by far the most illusive issue. Shifting cultural norms is a long-term process. The research undertaken by D Finkelhor on Child Sexual Abuse²⁵ and the work of Heartlines²⁶ in South Africa and of Raising Voices in Uganda might offer some guidance.

Finkelhor suggests that in order for someone to commit an offence they need to overcome four obstacles:

1. 
   Motivation (desire) – they need to want to do this
   
2. 
   Conscience – they need to overcome their own moral compass
   
3. 
   Opportunity – they need to overcome external inhibitors
   
4. 
   Impunity – they need to do it and get away with it
   

Based on Finkelhor within the context of VAW in Africa the two main areas where the church can bring change is in conscience and impunity.

Very little can be done at the motivational level, however, resetting the moral compass and the power dynamics of a community (and modelling that change in gender relationships) would dramatically increase the conscience. In many cases men in Africa don’t set out to violate women, they simply act within the norm. One thus needs to change what “normal” is.
Again, while some work can be done with the redesign of physical environments, the much more important work is to end impunity – both within the legal justice framework but also within the community sanction of certain ways of life.


Annexure 6: Potential Reference Group Members
A: Church Networks

All Africa Council of Churches

The All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) is a fellowship that accounts for over 120 million Christians from 39 countries across the continent. AACC is the largest association of Protestant, Anglican, Orthodox and Indigenous churches in Africa and is a member of the worldwide ecumenical network. The AACC has a programme specifically focused on Empowering Women. The programme seeks to:

• 
  Change laws, policies and general practices to enhance women’s economic, political and social empowerment
  
• 
  Move member churches toward greater engagement with their governments over discrimination against women
  
• 
  To facilitate the development of alternative development strategies that promotes gender equity
  
• 
  To update and enrich women on current key issues on social, economic and political development
  
• 
  Encourage members to organize south-to-south visits by women for exposure, sharing of experiences and transfer of skills
  

Primary Contact: Rev. Dr. André Karamaga (Secretary General)

Telephone: [phone]

Address: Nairobi, Kenya

Website: www.aacc-ceta.org

Fellowship of Christian Councils and Churches in the Great Lakes and the Horn of Africa

Fellowship of Christian Councils and Churches in the Great Lakes and Horn of Africa (FECCLAHA) is a regional body that consists of churches and church councils in the region. It was formally launched in March 1999. They have membership in Burundi, DRC, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. One of FECCLAHA’s four strategic focuses is on gender issues and in particular VAW. FECCLAHA developed the Tamar Bible Study Series.

Primary Contact: Mr. Fred Nyabera (Director)

Telephone: [phone]

Address: Nairobi, Kenya

Email: [e-mail]

Website: www.fecclaha.org
The Association of Evangelicals in Africa

The Association of Evangelicals in Africa (AEA) was formed in 1966. In its 37 years of existence, AEA has grown into a continental family of over 70 million evangelicals comprising 33 National Evangelical Fellowships that are made up of numerous local churches. AEA established the Pan African Christian Women Alliance (PACWA) in 1997. Women delegates to the 5^th General Assembly saw the need for a continental gathering of evangelical Christian women for a time of fellowship in order to consider and pray about the challenges that face the Church in Africa and how to respond to them as Christian women. They set the following objectives:

1. 
   To carry out the Gospel light to our people who are yet to be reached.
   
2. 
   To stop the tide of ungodly secularism and materialism.
   
3. 
   To assert the true dignity of women as found in God's word.
   
4. 
   To inject into the African society biblical morals and values through women who are the mothers of all societies.
   
5. 
   To educate women on matters of justice, equity, and socio-economic development.
   
6. 
   To foster effective cooperation of all Christian women ministries in Africa.
   

Primary Contact: Rev. Dr. Mrs. Judy Mbugua (Executive Secretary)

Telephone: [phone]

Address: Nairobi, Kenya

Email: [e-mail]

Website: www.aeafrica.org
B: Theological Institutions

Nairobi Evangelical Graduate School of Theology (NEGST)

NEGST is now a school under the Africa International University - AIU. NEGST exists primarily as an evangelical post-graduate theological institution to promote excellence in African Christianity. This over-arching mission is promoted through:

1. 
   training men and women in necessary ministry skills;
   
2. 
   developing in students a deeper understanding of biblical and theological foundations;
   
3. 
   studying the major issues and challenges facing Christianity in Africa; and
   
4. 
   engaging in research and publication to address the concerns and needs of African Christianity.
   

Primary Contact: Dr John Jusu

Telephone: + 254 (020) 882104/5

Address: Nairobi, Kenya

Email: [e-mail]

Website: www.negst.edu
Network for African Congregational Theology (NetACT)

NetACT is a network of eleven theological institutions in the Presbyterian and Reformed tradition in eight Sub-Saharan African countries. Its vision is to develop leadership at theological training institutions that will be able to develop congregational leadership able to do missional theology in congregations and their communities.

Primary Contact: Prof H Jurgens Hendriks (Executive Director)

Telephone: [phone]

Address: Stellenbosch, South Africa

Email: [e-mail]

Website: http://academic.sun.ac.za/theology/Centres/NetAct/netact.htm

St Pauls University

St Pauls University is a Christian ecumenical community dedicated to the promotion of knowledge and Christian spiritual formation for the good of humanity and the glory of God. St. Paul’s is a private Christian University founded and sponsored by the Trustees. St Pauls is a Tearfund partner and are currently working on theological reflections for the HIV Unit at Tearfund.

Primary Contact:

Telephone: +254 - 20 - 2020505

Address: Limuru, Kenya

Email:

Website: www.stpaulslimuru.ac.ke
C: NGOs

Sonke Gender Justice Network (South Africa)

Sonke Gender Justice Network works across Africa to strengthen government, civil society and citizen capacity to support men and boys to take action to:

• 
  promote gender equality,
  
• 
  prevent domestic and sexual violence, and
  
• 
  reduce the spread and impact of HIV and AIDS.
  

In this way the organisation contributes to the development of societies in which men, women, youth and children can enjoy equitable, healthy and happy relationships that contribute to the development of just and democratic societies.

The One Man Can campaign is Sonke's flagship project. The One Man Can Campaign supports men and boys to take action to end domestic and sexual violence and to promote healthy, equitable relationships that men and women can enjoy - passionately, respectfully and fully.

The One Man Can Campaign promotes the idea that each one of us has a role to play, that each one of us can create a better, more equitable and more just world. At the same time, the campaign encourages men to work together with other men and with women to take action - to build a movement, to demand justice, to claim our rights and to change the world. Sonke have developed strategies specifically for churches as part of the One Man Can campaign.

Primary Contact: Bafana Khumalo and Dean Peacock (co-founders and co-directors)

Telephone: + 27 21 423 7088

Address: Cape Town, South Africa

Email:

Website: www.genderjustice.org.za

Heal Africa (DRC)

HEAL Africa’s hospital and community development work address the root causes of illness and poverty for the people of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. This has led them to engage specifically with VAW in a number of ways – from restoration to prevention.
Primary Contact: Lyn Lusi (Founder)

Telephone:

Address: Goma, DRC

Email:

Website: www.healafrica.org
Heartlines (South Africa)

HEARTLINES believes that a bold and far reaching intervention can achieve positive national transformation and impact substantially on the issues that face us. It encourages people of goodwill to have the courage to do good. If enough people start living out good values we will reach a social “tipping point” which can transform South Africa. HEARTLINES uses the media, technology and partnerships with key institutions to shift social norms by inspiring and encouraging people to become part of a national movement for good. HEARTLINES’ patrons include Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and Brigalia Bam (ex Secretary General of the South African Council of Churches)

Primary Contact: Carolyn Thomas (Project Manager, Church Relationships)

Telephone: [phone]

Address: Johannesburg, South Africa

Email: [e-mail]

Website: www.heartlines.org.za
Raising Voices (Uganda)

Raising Voices is recognized regionally and internationally as a pioneer in preventative approaches with proven capacity for creative and practical programs. They are regularly sought out by a variety of international organizations and decision-makers to consult on program design and development, provide technical support and capacity building on violence against women and children, and human rights.

Violence against Women programming has been underway at Raising Voices since their inception in 1999. Raising Voices received the Women’s Safety Award from Women and Cities International in 2004 for innovative efforts to prevent violence against women. Their work has also been recognized as good practice by WHO, USAID and CDC.
Raising Voices have developed some incredibly helpful African material that deals with the issue of power in VAW. (See Annexure 10 for a sample) In 2003 Raising Voices established the GBV Prevention Network – an affiliation of activists and practitioners committed to preventing gender based violence in the Horn, East & Southern Africa. Membership is composed of more than 130 organizations and individuals from more than 18 countries who identify with, see value in, and actively contribute to helping the Network reach our objectives.
Primary Contact: Lori Michau (Co-founder and co-director and coordinates the VAW Program)

Telephone: [phone]

Address: Kampala, Uganda

Email: [e-mail]

Website: www.raisingvoices.org

D: African Union

Directorate of Women, Gender and Development

The AU gender programme involves both stand-alone women’s empowerment programmes, as well as programmes to incorporate gender into all the activities of the Commission. In this regard, the Gender Directorate has a two-fold approach to its work. First, a women-targeted women-in-development approach which recognizes that women are starting from a more disadvantaged position than men, and, therefore, seeks to remove the obstacles that women suffer. This is in order to empower women so as to enable them to compete on a level of equality with men. The second is a more holistic, all-encompassing gender-and-development approach, which seeks to ensure that women are part of mainstream activities as equal stakeholders with men.

Primary Contact: Mrs. Litha Musyimi-Ogana

Telephone: [phone] Ext 220

Address: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Email: [e-mail]

Website: http://www.africa-union.org

Annexure 7: Extended Contact List
A: Church Networks

Both the AACC (www.aacc-ceta.org) and AEA (www.aeafrica.org) publish details of their regional country level structures on their websites. However it would be most appropriate to engage these networks at a continental level first and then cascade into the regions.

B: NGOs

GBV Prevention Network has an extensive database of NGOs working on the issue in Africa. The database can be accessed online at www.preventgbvafrica.org. Almost all of the civil society organisations highlighted to me by my contacts in Africa are already on this database. Below are few that were not:

Ugandan Women Concern Ministry www.ugandaconcern.com Mbale, Uganda: Edith Wakumire [e-mail] or [e-mail] + 256 45 34258
Masimanyane Women's Support Centre www.masimanyane.org.za East London, South Africa  Dr Lesley Ann Foster [e-mail] [phone]
C: Theological Institutions

In the course of my research I sought to engage with a wide range of theological institutions in Africa. I made contact with a number of South African institutions with where I have personal contacts:

Cape Town Baptist Seminary www.ctbs.org.za Cape Town South Africa:

Dr Annelien Rabie [e-mail]

Cornerstone Institute www.cornerstone.ac.za Cape Town South Africa:

Marius Brand [e-mail]

Rhema Bible College http://rtc.inlife.co.za Johannesburg South Africa:

Pastor Vic Mundy (Dean) [phone] [e-mail]

SA Theological Seminary (SATS) www.satsonline.org Johannesburg South Africa:

Prof. Samuel Kunhiyop [e-mail]

Stellenbosch University http://academic.sun.ac.za/theology/ Stellenbosch South Africa:

Prof H Jurgens Hendriks (Practical Theology and Missiology) [e-mail]

Theological Education by Extension (TEE) www.tee.co.za Johannesburg South Africa:

Caroline Tuckey [e-mail]

University of Pretoria (Faculty of Theology) www.up.ac.za Pretoria South Africa:

Prof. Dreyer [e-mail]  [phone] and

Prof. Masango [e-mail] [phone]
University of South Africa (UNISA) www.unisa.ac.za Pretoria South Africa:

Prof Puleng LenkaBula (Systematic Theology and Theological Ethics) [e-mail]

And with the following institutions which are accredited through the AEA Theological and Christian Education Commission:

Africa Theological Seminary (ATS) 
(Formerly known as International Christian Ministries Seminary [ICM Seminary])
PO Box 1284, Kitale, Kenya
Dr Emmanuel Chemengich, Principal 
[e-mail] 

Baptist Theological Seminary of Zambia
PO Box 320034, Woodlands, Lusaka, Zambia
Misheck Zulu
[e-mail] 

Bible Institute of South Africa 
Main Road, Kalk Bay 7975, South Africa
Dr Raymond Potgieter, Principal
[e-mail] 

Christian Service University College 
P.O. Box 3110, Kumasi, Ghana
S B Adubofuor, Acting Principal
[e-mail] 

Ethiopian Graduate School of Theology, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
 
P.O. Box 24934, AA 1000, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Dr. Desta Heliso, Director
[e-mail] 

Evangelical Bible College of Malawi
 
P.O. Box 243, Blantyre, Malawi
Megumi Fazakerly, Acting Principal
[e-mail] 

Evangelical Seminary of Southern Africa
 
P.O. Box 2400, Pietermartizburg 3200, South Africa
Dr J A Ilori, Acting Principal
[e-mail], [e-mail] 

Evangelical Theological College
 
P.O. Box 5773 AA, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Rev Semeon Mulatu, Principal
[e-mail] 

Friends Theological College
PO Box 9, Tiriki, 50309 Kenya
Ben Richmond
[e-mail] 

Ghana Christian University
Diploma in Theology, Bachelor of Theology
P.O. Box 1, Abuakwa via Kumasi, Ghana
Dr George S. Mallet, Principal
[e-mail] 

Ghana Christian College and Seminary
Bachelor of Arts (Theology)
P.O. Box DD 48, Dodowa, Accra, Ghana
Manuel Adjei, President
[e-mail] 

Instituto Biblico de Sofala
Caixa Postal 1951, Beira, Sofala, Mozambique
Tim Wood
[e-mail] 

Instituto Superio Teogolica no Lubango (ISTEL)
Caixa Postal 523, Lubango, Angola
Avelino Rafael 
[e-mail] 

Justo Mwale Theological University College
 
P.O. Box 310199, Lusaka 15301, Zambia
Dr Devison Banda, Principal
[e-mail], [e-mail] 

Kenya International School of Theology
PO Box 75, Maseno, Kenya
[e-mail] 

Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary
P.O. Box 3033, Monrovia, Liberia
Rev. Alexander Jillah Brooks
[e-mail] 

LIFE Theological Seminary
79 Awolowo Road, PO Box 56, Ikorodu, Nigeria
Dr Cletus Orgu, Provost
[e-mail] 

Maranatha University College
P. O. Box AN10320, Accra-North, Ghana
Bernard Marbell, Principal
[e-mail]

Mekane Yesus Theological Seminary
 
P.O. Box 1247, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Fekadu Kanno, Acting Principal
[e-mail], [e-mail]

Moffat College of the Bible
 
P.O. Box 70, Kijabe, Kenya
Rev Paul Manyara, Principal
[e-mail] 

Nairobi Evangelical Graduate School of Theology
 
P. O. Box 24686, Nairobi 00502, Kenya
Dr Douglas Carew, Vice Chancellor
[e-mail]

Nairobi International School of Theology
www.nistkenya.com 
 
P.O. Box 60954, Nairobi, Kenya
Dr Emmanuel Bello, Principal
[e-mail] 

Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary
P.M.B. 4008, Ogbomosho, Oyo State, Nigeria
Dr Emiola Nihinlola, President
[e-mail] 

Nile Theological College
Bachelor of Arts (English track)
P.O. Box 632, Khartoum North, Sudan
Thomas Maluit, Principal
[e-mail]

Scott Theological College
 
P.O. 49, Machakos, Kenya
Dr Jacob Kibor, Principal 
[e-mail] 

The Evangelical College of Theology
 
P. O. Box 890, Freetown, Sierra Leone
Abu Conteh, Principal
[e-mail], [e-mail] 

Theological College of Central Africa
 
P.O. Box 250100, Ndola, Zambia
Rev Joe Simfukwe, Principal
[e-mail] 

Universite Shalom de Bunia 
(Formerly Institute Superieure Theologique de Bunia)
 
P.O. Box 21285, Nairobi, Kenya
Dr Bungishabaku Katho, Principal
[e-mail], [e-mail] 

United Missionary Church of Africa Theological College (UMCATC)
PO Box 171, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria
Dr. George Folarin, Principal
Pastor Peter O. Awojobi, Provost
[e-mail]
As well as the following through other contacts:

Alexandria School of Theology Egypt: [e-mail]

Daystar University Kenya: Frank Msambya [e-mail]

Azusa Pacific University (Satellite campus in SA): www.apu.edu Reg Codrington  [e-mail]

Annexure 8: NETACT proposal

In my engagement with Prof H Jurgens Hendriks the Executive Director of the Network for African Congregational Theology (NetACT) we discussed the potential for a collaborative engagement in developing curriculum on gender issues. Below is a proposal that he submitted in this regard:

NetACT is a network of twelve seminaries in eight African countries. These seminaries have decided that, in order to achieve their mission and goals, attention to curriculum development and accreditation is a first priority. In July 2009 they hosted 50 people working at OT and NT curriculum and are now planning regional meetings in Africa to help all staff members with the basic principles of curriculum development.
A POSSIBLE WAY TO ADDRESS VAW

At this meeting a strong case was made to address Gender Issues with curriculum development. One can combine this with the Restored project on VAW. Anyone familiar with seminaries in Africa will be knowledgeable of the problems they face and their chronic staff shortage, financial problems etc. NetACT is assisting its member institutions in focusing on the crucial issues of a contextualized curriculum development and internationally accepted accreditation. This should include issues of VAW.

It is possible for Prof Hendriks to convince NetACT to work with the Tearfund / Restored on these two related issues: Gender Issues and Violence Against Women. I hope to be visiting all institutions in 2010-2011 and motivate them to this extent. NetACT will also have an AGM in 2011 that could address these two issues specifically. In preparation for such a meeting one could get the necessary info on what is actually in curricula dealing with these issues. One could also include other seminaries willing to participate.
Without going into detail, this is a way of a type of base line study that will give one a very good indication of what is happening on the ground in seminaries. This is one of the best ways of changing the tide. On a personal level Prof Hendriks has committed himself to work and support seminaries in the formation of future leaders for the continent as one of the most crucial and productive ways of making a difference and advancing the Kingdom of God.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

The 2009 meeting at Stellenbosch was done on a shoestring budget. About 50 people attended of which we carried all travelling and accommodation expenses of about 35. We did it for R320,000 (£27,000)

Annexure 9: Tamar Bible Study Series
See PDF attached
Annexure 10: Raising Voices Materials
See PDF attached

1 Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa. Article 1 j.

2 The All Africa Council of Churches is the largest association of Protestant, Anglican, Orthodox and Indigenous churches in Africa and is a member of the worldwide ecumenical network.

3 World Health Organisation World Report on Violence and Health, 2002

4 USAID, Linking Gender-Based Violence Research to Practice in East, Central and Southern Africa, February 2006

5 http://www.afrol.com/Categories/Women/FGM/netscapeindex.htm

6 UN Factsheet: How widespread is violence against women? Available at http://www.un.org/en/women/endviolence/factsheets.shtml

7 South African Rape Shock, BBC News, 18 June 2009. Available online at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8107039.stm

8 www.rape.co.za

9 World Bank, Preventing and responding to gender-based violence in middle and low- income countries: a global review and analysis, 2005

10 Evaluating Women’s Participation in Transitional Justice and Governance: a community dialogue process in Liberia. Anu Pillay. Conflict Trends Issue 2 of 2009.

11 www.stoprapeindrc.org

12 The National Centre for the Victims of Crime. www.ncvc.org

13 www.masimanyane.org.za

14 World Bank: Preventing and responding to gender-based violence in middle and low- income countries: a global review and analysis – 2005

15 USAID: Linking Gender-Based Violence Research to Practice in East, Central and Southern Africa, 2006

16 http://www.healafrica.org

17 WHO Multi-country Study on Women’s Health and Domestic Violence against Women, 2005

18 www.genderjustice.org.za/onemancan

19 Herstad, Britt. 2009. The Role of Religious Communities in Addressing Gender-based Violence and HIV. Washington, DC: Futures Group, Health Policy Initiative, Task Order 1.

20 www.preventgbvafrica.org

21 http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/fromthefield/219487/125855726447.htm and http://www.enditnow.org

22 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=22662

23 http://allafrica.com/stories/201002081738.html

24 Gender-Based Violence Laws In Sub-Saharan Africa, 2007. The Committee on African Affairs of the New York City Bar.

25 D Finkelhor on Child Sexual Abuse: New Theory & Research 1986

26 http://www.heartlines.org.za/

Violence Against Women in Sub-Saharan Africa - March 2010

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