Latest update May 12th, 2024 12:59 AM
Nov 22, 2018 News
Recognising that one too many women is subjected to gender-based violence, Mothers’ Union, an international Christian charity that seeks to support families worldwide, will be among the organisations engaged the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence campaign.
The campaign is one which takes place each year from November 25 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) until December 10 (International Human Rights Day).
Throughout the campaign, Mothers’ Union joins with other organisations and civil society groups globally to raise awareness of, and call for an end to, gender-based violence in all forms and in all societies.
Each year, Mothers’ Union members from as far afield as the West Indies to Australia will be leading prayer walks, silent petitions, handing out fliers, holding vigils and services in cathedrals and churches in towns and cities across the world – raising awareness of the perils of domestic violence.
This is imperative as according to current Chief Executive of the body, Bev Jullien, “At least one in three women globally will experience some form of gender-based violence in their lifetime.” “This is one in three too many,” Jullien noted. “We are passionate about doing all we can to eradicate violence against women and men.”
Actions in this regard, she said, have been known to take all sorts of forms depending on the context of where the Union’s members are based.
“What is important is that they do take action,” said Jullien. “Combating domestic violence is at the heart of what many Mothers’ Union members do around the world – whether it is supporting women with practical help at a local level or lobbying governments for fairer treatment of women marginalised as a result of negative practices.”
Guyana is expected to play a more integral role in the work of the Mothers’ Union with the recent election of Guyanese Sheran Harper as its first ever Worldwide President from outside the British Isles.
A record number of Mothers’ Union leaders from across the globe voted for Harper (the wife of former West Indies cricketer, Roger Harper) to represent and lead the 142-year-old movement’s four million membership in 84 countries. Harper is expected to take up her new position in January.
Meanwhile, the Mothers’ Union has announced that the organisation’s Scotland base, a member of the Scottish Interfaith Group on Domestic Abuse, has been raising awareness through an exhibition of shoes entitled “Souls of Our Shoes”. The exhibition is one where each pair in the exhibition tells the story of a person affected by domestic abuse or with statements from faith communities and politicians.
The group recently launched a film called “Walking Through Domestic Abuse” where survivors (women, men and children) talk about living through domestic abuse. The Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, The Most Reverend Mark Strange, has welcomed the film as a tool for raising awareness of domestic abuse within the community.
“Faith communities have a vital role to play in recognising and responding to all forms of gender-based violence. Gender injustice is a significant part of the Scottish Episcopal Church’s current work and concern.
“Through engagement with campaigns such as Side by Side, Thursdays in Black, and the Interfaith Group on Domestic Abuse, we hope to create a world where all can live lives free from abuse,” he said.
Hilary Moran, who represents Mothers’ Union at the Scottish Interfaith Group on Domestic Abuse said, “These 16 days actively publicise the plight against women, whether we talk about it, pray or hold meetings, share videos on social media or lobby our press and governments on this issue.
“I’ve been told by survivors how important it is to them to raise awareness of domestic abuse.”
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