Gender-Based Violence and Women’s Rights in Africa: Reflection on a Persistent Crisis

By Emmanuel Mihiingo Kaija

Emkaijawrites@gmail.com

Exordium

In the kraal of words and meanings, “Gender-Based Violence” (GBV) emerges as a phrase dense with history, social complexity, and profound urgency. The term gender, birthed from the Latin root genus meaning “kind” or “type,” has transcended the biological distinctions of sex to encompass the layered and shifting social constructions of identity, power, and role within human societies. Violence predicated on gender is thus far more than physical harm; it is a systemic expression of unequal power relations entrenched deeply within cultures, traditions, and institutions—an unyielding tempest that batters the bodies, spirits, and futures of women across Africa. The World Health Organization’s 2021 global report illuminates this grim reality, revealing that approximately 44.6% of women aged 15-49 in Sub-Saharan Africa have suffered intimate partner violence, an overwhelming tide that surges highest in fragile and conflict-ridden states, where the threads of society unravel most perilously. This shadow epidemic is cloaked in silence and stigma, hidden behind social veneers that insist on normalcy while bones break and spirits shatter. It is a wound not only on flesh but on the very soul of the continent, echoing the biblical narrative of Hagar, the exile cast into the wilderness yet cradled by the whisper of divine mercy—a story reverberating with the resilience and pain of countless African women thrust into desert places by violence, yet refusing to be consumed by despair. This essay embarks on an interdisciplinary pilgrimage through these tangled realities, weaving together the prophetic calls and mournful laments of biblical theology, the deep reservoirs of African proverb wisdom, and the piercing insights of contemporary social science. In doing so, it seeks not only to expose the intricate scaffolding of patriarchal dominance and systemic injustice that perpetuates GBV, but also to illuminate the sacred potential of scripture and tradition—when rightly interpreted—to become instruments of liberation, healing, and hope. Through this holistic vision, it beckons faith communities, lawmakers, and grassroots activists alike to unite in a sacred covenant to restore dignity, safety, and justice for the women of Africa.

Introduction

Across the sprawling landscapes of Africa—from the sun-drenched savannahs where ancient baobabs stand witness, to the teeming urban quarters humming with restless life—a lamentation rises that is at once both ancient and immediate. Gender-based violence is not merely a social ill to be quantified but a profound wound cutting across flesh, heart, and community, unraveling the fabric of families and nations with merciless persistence. It is a violence that manifests in brutal physical assaults, sexual violation, psychological torment, and economic deprivation—each thread of suffering woven into a tapestry of oppression that stains the continent’s promise and prosperity. The global figure that one in three women experience violence in their lifetime is borne out with even greater intensity in Africa, where UNICEF’s 2022 data reports that 35% of girls in Sub-Saharan Africa marry before the age of 18, thrusting young bodies into premature motherhood and exposing them to heightened risks of intimate partner violence, maternal death, and lifelong economic dependency. This staggering prevalence cuts through the hopeful narratives of development and modernity, underscoring the chasm between policy aspirations and lived realities. Spiritually, this tragedy echoes the exile of Hagar, whose story—cast into the desert yet sustained by divine presence—serves as a poignant metaphor for the millions of women marginalized by violence and societal neglect. As theologian J. N. K. Mugambi reflects in African Christian Theology, Hagar embodies the tension between abandonment and hope, exile and sacred belonging, a tension felt deeply in the lives of women caught in the relentless crossfire of tradition, law, and power. This essay embraces this layered complexity, refusing simplistic binaries of modernity versus tradition, or East versus West. Instead, it opens a space where prophetic justice, African wisdom, and interdisciplinary scholarship converge, charting a path toward holistic healing that recognizes the dignity of women as a sacred trust and a fundamental measure of societal health.

Forms and Prevalence of Gender-Based Violence

The forms of gender-based violence haunting Africa are multifaceted and devastating, ranging from the visible to the insidious, the physical to the psychological, the individual to the systemic. Amnesty International’s 2023 report unveils the grim reality of sexual violence in conflict zones such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where as many as one in five women have been subjected to brutal acts of war-time sexual assault, a weapon of terror designed to fracture communities and silence resistance. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), a cruel practice inflicted on over 200 million girls and women worldwide—with Somalia’s prevalence nearing 98%—inflicts lifelong physical pain, psychological trauma, and social exclusion, masquerading under the guise of cultural tradition yet steeped in patriarchal control. Child marriage, economic abuse, and psychological violence compound these wounds, ensnaring young girls and women in cycles of dependency and marginalization. According to the African Development Bank (2022), women in Africa hold a mere 15% of land ownership titles, a stark emblem of economic disenfranchisement that fuels vulnerability and powerlessness within households and communities. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) further exposes a chilling silence, reporting that over 70% of GBV cases in East Africa remain unreported, victims bound by fear, stigma, and inadequate legal protections. These statistics, though harrowing, only skim the surface of lived experience: each number conceals stories of broken bodies, silenced cries, shattered dreams, and yet also of fierce resistance and unyielding hope.

Cultural and Structural Roots

At the core of this entrenched violence lies a complex and interwoven fabric of patriarchal norms, cultural traditions, economic inequalities, and legal inadequacies—each thread reinforcing the others in a tapestry of systemic oppression. The term patriarchy itself, originating from the Latin patria (“father’s rule”), evokes a social system where power is concentrated in male hands, dictating not only governance but the intimate contours of daily life. Yet patriarchy in Africa is not a monolith; it is an evolving force breathed into life through myriad ethnic customs, religious interpretations, and social expectations. The Yoruba proverb, “Obinrin l’agbelebu ile”—“A woman is the pillar of the home”—encapsulates a profound paradox: women bear the weight of familial stability, yet their voices often remain muted and their autonomy constrained. This paradox is further sharpened by economic disenfranchisement; as the African Development Bank’s 2022 data reveals, the scarcity of land ownership and financial independence among women compounds their vulnerability to violence and exploitation. Within legal systems and social norms, violence against women is frequently dismissed as a private matter, shielded from public scrutiny, while stigma silences survivors and emboldens perpetrators. The biblical ideal of womanhood as “clothed with strength and dignity” (Proverbs 31:25) seems a distant dream against this backdrop of systemic inequality, where selective and distorted interpretations of sacred texts sometimes serve to legitimize subjugation rather than liberation. This intricate web demands not only legal reform but cultural reckoning, a reimagining of tradition and power that honors women’s dignity as foundational rather than marginal.

Legal Frameworks and Policy Responses

The legal terrain addressing gender-based violence across Africa is marked by both hopeful advances and persistent challenges. Landmark frameworks like the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol, 2003) articulate the continent’s commitment to safeguarding women from violence and discrimination, signaling a progressive recognition of GBV as a fundamental human rights violation. Countries such as South Africa, Rwanda, and Uganda have codified legislation criminalizing domestic violence, sexual assault, and harmful traditional practices, reflecting a vital, if uneven, dedication to legal reform. Yet the chasm between law and lived reality remains wide. Amnesty International’s 2023 report documents that in some regions fewer than 10% of reported GBV cases result in prosecution, revealing a grim panorama of judicial inertia, corruption, and resource scarcity. Furthermore, many legal systems still fail to address critical issues such as marital rape, human trafficking, and the provision of survivor-centered support services like shelters and counseling. These gaps, coupled with cultural resistance to reforms perceived as Western impositions, fuel backlash and alienate victims from formal justice mechanisms. The incisive legal feminist scholar Catherine MacKinnon’s observation rings painfully true: “Law is not neutral; it is a terrain of power.” In Africa, this terrain demands reshaping through not only codification but deep cultural transformation—embedding legal protections within community contexts and ensuring access to justice is not a distant ideal but a lived reality for women.

Advocacy and Grassroots Movements

Amid the harsh realities of violence and silence, the glowing embers of African women’s movements blaze as beacons of resilience, hope, and transformative power. The African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF), established in 2001, nurtures over a thousand grassroots organizations, weaving a vibrant tapestry of activism that blends cultural affirmation, faith-rooted empowerment, and rights-based advocacy. Zimbabwe’s Musasa Project stands as a sanctuary and voice for survivors, embodying Psalm 82:3’s divine call to “Defend the weak and the fatherless.” These groups courageously engage traditional leaders, faith communities, and local languages to foster dialogue that challenges harmful norms while honoring cultural identity. Male ally programs such as MenEngage Africa work to reconstruct models of masculinity, dismantling violent power dynamics and reminding men of their role in communal healing through proverbs like the Xhosa “Umntu ngumntu ngabantu”—“A person is a person through other people.” These movements do not merely respond to violence; they contest dominant narratives, elevate women as agents of change, and envision futures where dignity and justice are not gifts but birthrights. Their work is a sacred dance of resistance, blending spirituality, culture, and social justice into a powerful force for transformation.

Counterarguments and Discussion

Voices cautioning against what they perceive as “Western cultural imperialism” in gender equality advocacy ring with echoes of Africa’s history of colonization, invoking the sacredness of indigenous identity, sovereignty, and social cohesion. These concerns merit profound respect and nuanced engagement, lest reform become another form of cultural domination. Yet the biblical prophets—Amos, Micah, Isaiah—issue timeless indictments against social injustice that transcend geography and culture, calling all societies to mercy, equity, and radical transformation. The theological tradition reminds us that justice is not a foreign imposition but a sacred demand rooted in the divine character. African theologian John Mbiti underscores that traditional African religions are not static relics but living traditions capable of embracing change without losing their soul. The path forward is therefore one of discerning renewal—holding fast to liberative indigenous truths while courageously confronting and reforming oppressive customs. This dialectic calls for humility, dialogue, and a shared commitment to justice that honors cultural identity and universal human dignity alike, ensuring that women’s empowerment arises authentically from the fertile soil of African life.

Conclusion

The struggle against gender-based violence in Africa is not only a pressing social crisis but a profound moral summons—a call to resurrection, renewal, and justice. Grounded in the sacred visions of biblical justice, enriched by the enduring wisdom of African proverbs and cultural heritage, and propelled by the courage of grassroots activism, this battle beckons faith leaders, policymakers, and communities to unite as fierce guardians of women’s dignity and rights. When justice flows like a mighty river (Amos 5:24), washing away the sediment of oppression and violence, the daughters of Africa will walk free—crowned with honor, respect, and the fullness of their God-given humanity. The road ahead is fraught with tension, resistance, and complex challenges, yet it is sacred terrain—woven from the courage of survivors, the wisdom of elders, and the hope of unborn generations. Only through holistic, culturally grounded, and sustained commitment can Africa fulfill its promise: a continent where every woman’s life is cherished, protected, and empowered to flourish.

Bibliography

African Development Bank. Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Report. Abidjan: AfDB, 2022.

Amnesty International. Failure to Protect: Gender-Based Violence in Africa. London: Amnesty International, 2023.

Brueggemann, Walter. Theology of the Old Testament: Testimony, Dispute, Advocacy. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1997.

MacKinnon, Catherine A. Sexual Harassment of Working Women: A Case of Sex Discrimination. Yale University Press, 1979.

Mugambi, J. N. K. African Christian Theology: An Introduction. Nairobi: Heinemann, 1989.

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Child Marriage Data. New York: UNICEF, 2022.

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Global Report on Trafficking in Persons. Vienna: UNODC, 2022.

World Health Organization. Violence Against Women Prevalence Estimates. Geneva: WHO, 2021.

Xhosa Proverb: “Umntu ngumntu throughout ” — A person is a person through other people.

Yoruba Proverb: “Obinrin l’agbelebu ile” — “A woman is the pillar of the home.”