03 Nov 2024

Comprehensive awareness campaign to educate communities on gender-based violence requires a cultural and spiritual shift.

This was said by Ms Kay Ramaabya, who was a guest speaker at the women’s wing conference organised by Salvation for Christ International Church in Gabane on Saturday. 

She said it was crucial for churches to shift from focusing solely on spiritual matters to also focusing on public social issues.

“Faith leaders should re-double efforts against gender-based violence (GBV) since church-driven community development initiatives can transform societies,” said Ms Ramaabya.

Moreover, she said trivialising situations that required urgent help and treatment exacerbated harmful acts of abuse, hence seeking professional help and taking necessary measures would help preserve life and dignity of victims of violence.

“Loving one another in the community can help prevent GBV, detect it timely and support those who go through it, be agents of peace and not act as enablers of violence,” she said.

Ms Ramaabya urged communities to combat all forms of GVB and be part of government’s resolve to eradicate the scourge.

‘A re tshwareng thipa ka fa bogaleng’ she said. She said families were part of building blocks of knowledge and had vital role in instilling values into children, and skills of how faceing life in general.

Ms Zannel Sealetsa, who is a counsellor, said going through traumatic experience for a long time may led to emotional stress, therefore for an effective recovery there was a need to establish a safe and supportive social environment.

She said psychological intervention would help build resilience and address unsolved feelings causing such emotional issues. ends