The "Eswatini Catholic Parliamentary Liaison Office" (E-CPLO) - born last June 2023 - organised its first round table on 31 July 2024 on "The role of the Church in the fight against Gender Based Violence"
Thanks to the support of the Deputy Prime Minister's office and the Domestic Violence office of the police, churches were called to come together and reflect on the role they have in working towards putting an end to it.
Some of initiatives shared were:
- Have a Zero tolerance approach to it
- Share information regarding what is being done
- Teach the faithful keeping in mind the different age levels and genders
- Be careful with the use of Scripture making sure it is used to free and not to oppress people
- Create a safe environment to talk about it
- Report and help report cases of abuse
- Network with other organisations
- Remember that Some of our churches have schools… reach out
- Mobilize resources
- Train local councillors
- Learn how to be able to identify cases
- Churches with schools are offered a particular space to reach out to those who are not members of that specific church
- Call to pray
- Promote safeguarding
On these last two points I pointed out that
- in their weekly "zoom prayer meeting" the Sodality of St Joseph always includes a prayer against GBV
- for the last two years the diocese has prepared Fr Wiseman Nkomo in this field (Safeguarding) and he is available to anyone who would like to invite him to address them
