We are pleased to share the publication of a new Dialogue Brief, “Non-Violent Parenting and Faith: Reclaiming Sacred Teachings for Child Dignity, Protection, and Flourishing“, co-authored by Noor Ur Rehman, Regional Coordinator for South Asia at the Joint Learning Initiative on Faith and Local Communities (JLI), and Dr Selina Palm, published by the Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI).
The brief is the second in a series co-produced by SVRI’s Working Group on Faith and Violence against Children, drawing on rich practice-based insights from participants in a 12-week educational course on faith and helping children thrive without violence. Rooted in years of frontline experience across South Asia and grounded in the conviction that sacred teachings carry transformative potential for child protection, the brief challenges a persistent and damaging assumption—that faith is an obstacle to ending violent discipline. On the contrary, it argues that when faith communities are meaningfully and thoughtfully engaged, they become among the most powerful forces for change at the household and community level.
The brief identifies four essential conversations that must take place with survivors, families, theological experts, and gender experts and sets out four concrete shifts required for faith to move from being a potential roadblock to becoming an active, positive resource in the shared endeavour of ending violent discipline and nurturing non-violent parenting. This work sits at the intersection of faith engagement, child rights, and gender justice areas that JLI and its partners across the South Asia region are committed to advancing together. Whether you are a faith leader seeking theological grounding for child-safe communities, a practitioner designing family strengthening programmes, a researcher building the evidence base, or a donor investing in sustainable norm change, this brief speaks directly to your work. We warmly invite you to read, share, and join this vital conversation.