A joint press release with the World Council of Churches
Geneva, 19.11.2015
A coalition of faith-based organisations emphasises its joint approach, raising the topic of unprecedented levels of violence against women and girls.
A coalition of faith-based organisations, including the Lutheran World Federation, the Anglican Communion, Islamic Relief Worldwide, “Mission 21”, the World Council of Churches, the World Communion of Reformed Churches, the World YWCA, the Church of Sweden and Finn Church Aid, once again raises the question of how important an interreligious approach is to the 16 Days of activism to end gender-based violence, which is observed throughout the world every year.
This year’s theme for the focus is “From peace at home to peace in the world: making education safe for all”. The period of activities will begin on 25 November with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and will continue until 10 December, Human Rights Day. UN Women says that, on a global scale, one third of women have experienced physical or sexual violence at some stage of their lives. More than 125 million girls and women living today have been subjected to female genital mutilation in various countries in Africa and the Middle East.
Early and forced marriages, lack of education
The campaign addresses the connection between child, early and forced marriages and the lack of access to education. It calls for schools to be kept as protected places, for greater awareness of gender justice among girls and their families, for the recognition of rites of passage and other processes of gender and sexual socialisation in cultures and religions, for sexual and reproductive health and rights, and for girls to be seen as decisive in efforts to overcome violence against women and to advance women’s opportunities.
The coalition has committed, both working together and each in the context of its own organisation, to the following action: – to compile sacred stories from Muslim and Christian traditions about the protection and empowerment of women and girls;- to highlight existing initiatives to overcome violence against women and girls, – Thursdays in Black (Thursdays in Black), the NoXcuses campaign, Imams against Domestic Abuse (Imams against Domestic Abuse), the LWF Gender Justice Policy, the “We Will Speak Out” (“We Will Speak Out”) coalition and scholarships for the education of women theologians;- to share prayers of mourning, confession and blessing connected with young girls;- to share how important it is to work together with faith leaders, and to encourage them to commit to never blessing a union that involves a minor.
The coalition plans to cooperate closely with UN agencies and diplomatic missions that mobilise people of faith, especially those working to overcome early and forced marriages and to ensure access to education, to strengthen the capacity of local communities to reject the practice of early marriage, especially in countries where its incidence is high.
The campaign is connected with the parties and mechanisms of UN human rights treaties, such as, for example, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Universal Periodic Review of human rights and Security Council Resolution No. 1325, which affirms the role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts.
The dignity of girls
Rev. Dr. Elaine Neuenfeldt, secretary of the LWF Women in Church and Society department, says that this year’s theme offers churches the opportunity to discuss the problem of early and forced marriage openly and directly. The aim of this campaign is to encourage faith organisations and congregations to raise awareness of the sad reality that so many girls experience. By involving faith leaders-advocates at various levels, it is hoped that they will incorporate this topic into sermons, conversations, group work and women’s fellowship.
“We want to raise this issue at a public level. It should be part of an action plan that addresses the public role of faith organisations. Girls must have the opportunity to flourish as human beings, not as child brides, nor as a commodity to be bargained over,” Neuenfeldt commented.
“We want to see girls with self-respect, with access to education, with the opportunity to choose and decide their own future. That is our dream – a world without violence and discrimination,” said Neuenfeldt. Individuals and local groups are invited to join the campaign
Translated by: LELBĀL pastor Ieva Puriņa
Proofreading: Milda Klampe