LWF leader encourages churches in India to stand against sexual violence through preaching, teaching and addresses
Geneva, Switzerland
12. 12. 2019.
The General Secretary of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Rev. Dr. Martin Junge, has urged all LWF member churches in India to strengthen their efforts to stop violence against women and to promote greater gender justice in their country.
In a letter sent to the Acting Executive Secretary of the United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India (UELCI), Rev. A. Joshua Peter, the LWF leader says that “with regret and pain we [..] have received the recent news of cases of sexual violence in your country, in which women have once again lost their lives.”
On 5 December a woman was set on fire on her way to a court in the state of Uttar Pradesh, where she planned to bring a case against two men whom she had accused of raping her. In the same Unnao district, police opened a murder investigation last July against a politician of the ruling party after a woman who had accused him of rape was seriously injured in a car accident in which two of her aunts died and her lawyer was injured. On 27 November a woman was gang-raped and burned to death in the southern city of Hyderabad.
Cases of rape are rising
Recent statistics from the Indian government show that reported cases of sexual violence are rising. On average, 92 women are raped in India every day. The increase is occurring despite serious legislative changes that were introduced in 2012, following international outrage over the gang rape and murder of a medical student in Delhi.
In his message, Junge said that he had been inspired by the way in which UELCI leaders have adopted and used resources such as the Gender Justice Policy that the LWF Council adopted in 2013.
“Because you are deeply rooted in the gospel of Jesus Christ and firmly committed to letting the gospel speak in your own context,” Junge adds, “we know that we stand united and firm, rejecting any form of violence against women and condemning the recent brutal events that have shaken us all.
There is no justification for violence
Rather than feeling paralyzed by such events, he continues: “we will give our witness that, rooted in faith, we make no distinction between men and women, and always condemn violence, including sexual violence.”
The LWF General Secretary urges church leaders to “speak out publicly in order to unanimously reject and stand against gender-based violence, as well as against any justification of it.” He calls for preaching and for teaching children in Sunday schools about the God-given dignity and the equal worth of women and men. He urges them to offer projects that defend women’s rights, give them access to resources and to participation in decision-making processes, and to ensure that all congregations and church institutions are safe places for women.
Source: The Lutheran World Federation news
Photo: ELC WESA PROJECT