Sexual violence by religious leaders denounced in South Africa
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Maravipost
Sonke Gender Justice denounces a rise in reports of sexual harassment, sexual abuse and gender-based violence committed by religious leaders in South Africa. The organisation calls for independent reporting procedures, mandatory protection rules and the referral of alleged offences to the criminal justice system.
Sonke Gender Justice, a South African organisation advocating gender equality, denounces a rise in reports of sexual harassment, sexual abuse and gender-based violence committed by members of the clergy across several denominations in South Africa.
The organisation says survivors describe manipulation practices under the guise of counselling, sexual propositions linked to spiritual favours or a position in the Church, and attempts to silence them to protect the reputation of religious institutions. It says these cases reveal a systemic failure of protection mechanisms, rather than a crisis limited to a single denomination.
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Summary produced with the help of artificial intelligence tools, under AFREEQUE’s editorial responsibility.
