As the Women’s Ministries Department of the Inter-European Division of Seventh-Day Adventists, we want to break the silence about violence against women and girls (VAWG) and support different prevention strategies. That is why we will be posting reminders on our Facebook page as well as Instagram (EUD_women) and our News site on eudwomen.org/news.
Even though we may think that our small actions are nothing special, when we unite to point out that there is no place for violence, our voices will be heard. The enditnow® initiative is one of many ways to say NO to violence. If society in general is called to take action, should not churches that proclaim the gospel of freedom be on the front lines of this battle against violence?
“The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an international civil society-led campaign that takes place each year. It commences on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and ends on 10 December, Human Rights Day, indicating that violence against women is the most pervasive breach of human rights worldwide. Violence against women and girls (VAWG) remains one of the most prevalent and pervasive human rights violations in the world. Despite many countries passing laws to combat violence against women, weak enforcement and discriminatory social norms remain significant problems. Globally, an estimated 736 million women — almost one in three — have been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both, at least once in their life. Violence negatively affects women’s physical and mental health and well-being at all stages of their lives and impacts their professional development and economic empowerment. Violence against women has also broader social and economic consequences for families, communities, and societies and impedes the achievement of sustainable development. The links between poverty, financial stressors and hardships, and violence against women are well established, with women facing disproportionately high risks of violence.
The theme and activities of the UNiTE campaign this year is Invest to Prevent Violence Against Women & Girls. It calls upon all UNITE networks, civil society, and women’s rights organizations, organizations working with men and boys, the UN system, the Generation Equality Action Coalitions government partners, human rights defenders, schools, universities, the private sector, sports clubs and associations and individuals to step up and support different prevention strategies to stop violence from occurring in the first place.”
This is an extract from the Concept Note of the initiative: www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/2023-11/unite_concept_note_english.pdf