On June 16, 1976, thousands of black schoolchildren in Soweto took to the streets to protest the imposition of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction, a seemingly linguistic issue that served as the final straw for a generation oppressed by a system designed to keep them subservient. The 1976 Soweto Uprising, commemorated annually as the Day of the African Child, was not an isolated incident but a violent eruption in a long history of injustice. In commemoration of this pivotal

Shared Responsibility in Safeguarding is seen as a top priority today, but in many parts of Africa, faith communities play a key role in making it work. At a recent Jesuit Centre for Safeguarding in Africa webinar, speakers stressed that those who are most trusted have the biggest responsibility to protect others. This is especially true in Africa, where religious institutions are some of the most trusted and accessible groups in society. Faith communities are places for worship, education, healthcare,

On 12 November 2025, the Jesuit Conference of Africa and Madagascar (JCAM) hosted an essential webinar on “Case Management in Safeguarding: Experiences, Challenges, and Recommendations.” The session was led by Fr. Benoît Malvaux, S.J., Procurator General of the Society of Jesus, who offered a deep, structured, and practical exposition on how the Church handles allegations of sexual abuse—focusing on canonical legislation, procedural steps, and the African Context. This article offers a detailed summary of his presentation. It highlights key takeaways

Safeguarding in the African Church has emerged as one of the most urgent and uncomfortable conversations within the African Church today. While many still associate the term only with sexual misconduct, the reality is far wider and far more painful. In the words of Fr. Cornelius, safeguarding reaches into every space: our families, our workplaces, and most critically, our worshipping communities. What makes safeguarding particularly complex is that the wounds it seeks to address are mostly invisible. Unlike illnesses such

From 3–7 October 2025, safeguarding leaders from Jesuit Provinces across Africa and Madagascar gathered at Africama House in Nairobi for the Provincial Safeguarding Officers’ (PSOs) Conference. This annual event has become a cornerstone for evaluating progress, identifying persistent challenges, and charting a concrete way forward for safeguarding in schools, parishes, formation houses, and social ministries. The 2025 conference painted a clear picture: safeguarding in the region is no longer a peripheral compliance obligation. It is steadily becoming a cultural expectation;

Safeguarding has become one of the most urgent and necessary conversations of our time. Rooted in gospel values, Catholic social teaching, and the inherent dignity of every human person, safeguarding is about more than policies or procedures—it is about cultivating a culture of love, protection, justice, and accountability in all our communities. At its heart, safeguarding ensures that every person—whether a child, a vulnerable adult, or even a professional such as a priest, doctor, or teacher—feels safe, respected, and valued.