About
The Faith Action to End GBV Collective
The Faith Action Collective was born in June 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic, when over 50 faith leaders came together online to address the alarming rise in femicides, sexual and domestic violence and unwanted pregnancies during lockdowns. Convened by UN Women (South Africa) and Sonke Gender Justice, with support from the South African Council of Churches, this initial meeting evolved into a collaborative effort to enhance the faith sector’s response to gender-based violence (GBV) which includes femicide.
The Collective aims to mobilise and equip the broader faith sector to break the silence around GBVF and respond urgently and effectively. While initially comprised of Christian partners, the Collective has since expanded to include leaders, scholars and activists from eight different faiths – African Traditional Religion, Baha’i, Brahma Kumaris, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism – as well as partners from the NGO, CBO and government sectors. This diversity strengthens the Collective’s unified commitment to building the faith sector’s capacity to contribute with integrity and effectiveness to ending GBV.
The Faith Action Collective and WWSOSA do not seek to replace the work of any faith-based partners, but rather to enhance it through collaboration, shared learning, and joint initiatives. Monthly online Forum meetings provide a platform for accountability, mutual learning, and networking. Over the past two years, more than 500 people have registered for these meetings and other learning platforms, reflecting the growing impact of our collective efforts.
We Will Speak Out South Africa (WWSOSA)
The Secretariat of the Faith Action Collective is coordinated by We Will Speak Out South Africa (WWSOSA). WWSOSA is dedicated to ending GBV in South Africa by mobilising a united and effective faith-based response that is responsive to survivor voices. WWSOSA has been central in shaping the Collective’s founding documents and functions as the legal entity that raises funds for and acts as Project Holder and was formally requested in 2023 to act as Coordinating Secretariat of the Faith Action Collective.
Founded in 2013 and formalised in 2017, WWSOSA emerged in response to a Tear Fund study that revealed GBV survivors’ deep disappointment in their religious leaders. Recognising the critical need for faith communities to take a more proactive and compassionate role in addressing GBV, WWSOSA was established to unite the faith sector in a long-term, survivor-informed response. WWSOSA’s work is fully aligned to the objectives of the National Strategic Plan on GBVF (NSP on GBVF) and the Comprehensive National GBVF Prevention Strategy (CNPS).
Today, WWSOSA is a vibrant community of over 200 core members, including faith leaders, GBV survivors, faith-based activist groups, NGOs, CBOs, faith-based organisations and individual scholars, professionals and activists.
The combined reach of the Faith Action Collective and WWSOSA has grown to over 950 subscribers. Moreover, a recent joint Interfaith Statement of commitment to address GBV has been signed by almost 700 signatories across eight different faiths. This reflects a strong and growing commitment within the (inter)faith sector to address this critical issue.
Our Mission
WWSOSA and the Faith Action Collective share a common mission: to mobilise and equip faith communities across South Africa to stand against GBV. Together, we are building a society where GBV and femicide are no longer tolerated, and where survivors receive the support and justice they deserve. Our work is grounded in faith, compassion, and a commitment to justice.