Side by Side is a movement
- not an organisation
What would a successful
faith-based Gender Justice
Movement in Southern Africa
look like?
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Faith leaders spectrum of responses.
Need to mobilise the middle
Vocally
and
actively
antigender
justice
Silently
antigender
justice
Inactive and
unaware of the
theological &
developmental
imperative
Silently
pro
gender
justice
Vocally
and
actively
pro
gender
justice
We must mobilise people of faith to do more
I WANT to address gender justice!
•Nurture constructive dialogue.
• Build the moral and political case
eg theology for gender justice
I MUST address Gender Justice!
•Empower and mobilize people of faith
(pressure from below)
e.g. lobbying for gender justice
•Influence top leadership (pressure from
above) eg national faith consultations
I CAN address Gender Justice!
Capacity development
eg mainstream gender to theological
colleges, teaching on positive
masculinity and gender model
families,
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How to establish a movement
Understand what movements are
•
•
•
The process of moving people from one position to another
A river flowing
A glacier carving out a new environment, carrying away the debris
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Building a movement
Decide what will keep it going
Develop a coordination structure and
obtain recognition of the movement
People often want to put change off... to another day
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“The time is always right, to do what is right”
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There is a growing number of voices
calling for change
‘In the Church, and on
the journey of faith,
women have had, and
still have, a special role
in opening doors to the
Lord’
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‘We must be the
change we want
to see’
Indian Nationalist Movements
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A movement
Pursues a common political agenda or ‘common
cause’
Has a visible constituency or membership base
Involves members working together in either formal
or informal organisations
Engages in collective actions and activities in
pursuit of the movement’s goals
Is pro-active, using a variety of actions and
strategies
Usually aims to shift power
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How to establish a movement
Somebody has to have the
courage to stand up and standout
www.ted.com/talks/derek_sivers_how_to_start_a_mov
ement?language=en
Others have the courage to follow
Movements take on a life of their
own when they are driven by
supporters [organisations must be
willing to let go of control]
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What mobilises people?
Critical incidents (e.g. the rape of a woman)
Sense of injustice (e.g. unequal pay)
Common problems (e.g. poverty)
Expressed needs (e.g. inequitable access to
education, healthcare, land etc.)
Traditional community events
(e.g. church services, rites of passage etc.)
General development activities
Emergencies
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Mobilising and Organising
Organising people to do something is not the same
as mobilising them to act independently
Mobilising people could be considered the easy
bit....keeping them motivated is harder.
However, for movements to grow someone needs to
be committed to the hard work of organising.
Too often campaigns plan for moments and don’t
think about what next.
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“First they ignore you.
Then they laugh at you.
Then they fight you.
Then you win”
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Ignore you
So, make ourselves
impossible to ignore
Engage in evidencebased research
Raise awareness
How might we do this?
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Laugh at you
In response:
Demonstrate that we are a
movement to be reckoned
with.
Get organised:
develop clear goals,
strategies, structures for
collaboration &
communication
How might we do this?
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Fight you
React by:
Confronting power
Vote / Strike / use non-violent non-cooperation
Don’t take on the power until you’ve got enough
support to not get crushed
How might we do this?
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You win…
…something
Is it enough?
Have you been co-opted
(compromised)?
What do you want to win?
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Developing the Movement
Consider existing tools for advocacy
Align with the national tools to deliver results
Establish what is possible
Make a concerted effort in each sector
Identify and utilize existing networks
Collaborate with allies who will help create a strong
and visible advocacy team
Capacity building
Intensify training opportunities for women…
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Consider current opportunities
The National Constitution
Legislative monitoring
Legislation processes that are ongoing
Laws that the church can influence
Identify legal gaps and draft legislations
Are there local Christian lawyers working on this?
The wide networks of Churches can be platforms for
galvanizing support for women through education
and awareness raising
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Assumptions
A united movement working in harmony with or through
existing networks
A non-violent movement based on shared values
That women are willing to take up the positions made
available
That Church leaders will be willing (even gradually) to accept
women’s leadership without prejudice
Consistency in undertaking campaigns on women’s
leadership and gender parity in society
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Possible challenges
Existing networks refuse to co-operate
There is conflict over which values we share
That women are unwilling (or afraid) to take up the positions
made available
That Church leaders are unwilling to make necessary
changes – seeing gender justice as low priority
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How will I start a movement in my country?
What steps do I need to take to begin to start or
strengthen the faith movement for gender justice in
my country?
Planning group: what regional structures do we
need to put in place to support the national
movements?
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Mobilise the middle
Vocally
and
actively
antigender
justice
Silently
antigender
justice
Inactive and
unaware of the
theological &
developmental
imperative
Silently
pro
gender
justice
Vocally
and
actively
pro
gender
justice
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Encourage and build capacity
Share existing, and produce
and disseminate new faithbased tools, methods and
theological materials for
use by faith leaders and
FBO’s to address gender
justice issues
Map existing faith actors and
enlist new ones to work
collaboratively towards
common gender justice
goals.
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Southern Africa aims to…
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Engage with all faith actors and other stakeholders to achieve gender
justice
Support and equip religious leaders to recognize and use their
position of leadership and responsibility to influence and promote
gender equality
Challenge negative social norms, religious and cultural practices that
negate the achievements on gender equality
Proactively challenge structures and systems that hinder women and
girls, men and boys from fully participating in social, economic and
political structures in their communities
Fully engage men and boys in adopting positive masculinity
Use religious structures to empower men and women, girls and boys
to enable them achieve their God-given potential
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Southern Africa actions
1. Create awareness amongst our congregations and communities of the
need for gender justice.
2. Establish and support safe spaces for faith leaders and people of
faith already championing gender justice to discuss and deliberate on
relevant issues and provide them with a platform to share their views.
3. Produce, disseminate and share new and existing information,
education and communication materials on gender justice.
4. Support national structures in the countries of this region for a more
coordinated and collaborative movement for faith-based gender justice
5. Create a map of existing faith actors and enlist new ones to work
more collaboratively towards common gender justice goals.
6. Build a more comprehensive evidence base for faith actors to
appropriately respond to gender injustices in their countries
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How can I start a movement in my
country?
What steps do I need to take to begin to start or strengthen the faith
movement for gender justice in my country?
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How can I start a movement in my country?
Things to consider:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Create awareness in my own faith community of the faith movement
for gender justice
Encourage faith leaders to conduct a gender audit of the state of
gender justice in the country (and in their churches)
Map what activities are already taking place
Encourage the development of a theology for gender justice and
incorporate these into the curriculum of theological colleges
Set up a faith networking group to discuss tricky gender issues e.g.
polygamy, strategies for negotiating safe sex, SRH, GBV,
transformative masculinities
Build upon existing structures and platforms and relationships
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Possible actions for establishing a national movement
1.
Follow up with contacts made to see if we can work together to
strengthen the national faith movement
2. Research action and undertake a gender audit
3. Discuss possible fundraising strategies
4. Discuss how to use and promote existing publications and research
5. Renew or create contacts with existing umbrella faith bodies
6. Review the curriculum of faith institutions
7. Collate good practice and shared learning
8. Share information on the movement with existing partners
9. Arrange a safe space to examine the barriers and opportunities for
establishing a faith movement nationally
10. Work with and encourage the regional inception group
11. Identify champions in each country
12. Develop a communication on the aims of the movement
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How can you get involved?
Help create a Regional Working group
Help create an action plan and Working groups
Help resource (fund!) the mobilisation
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How can you get involved?
Discuss in twos or threes what you think a Regional
Working group could look like, and whether you would be
willing to take part in one for this region.
Discuss what you think a National Consultation would look
like in your country. Who would you invite?
Would your church / organisation / Faith Community be
willing to help resource (fund!) the organisation of a
National Consultation?
PLENARY feedback
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