Religions for Peace Says NO to Violence against Women
1 November 2009
Violence against women can occur in all faith communities—whether Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Indigenous, or elsewhere. Religions for Peace, the world’s largest and most representative multi-religious coalition, is Saying NO to violence against women through a global campaign in partnership with UNIFEM, Restoring Dignity - Religions Join to End Violence against Women.
The global Religions for Peace network comprises a World Council of senior religious leaders from all regions of the world; five regional inter-religious bodies and more than seventy national ones; and the Global Women of Faith Network and Global Youth Network.
While respecting religious differences, the campaign, under the leadership of the Religions for Peace Global Women of Faith Network, aligns faith communities around the shared concern that in order to advance shared security and peace for all, the dignity of women and girls must be protected.
Religions for Peace invites all people of faith—religious leaders, survivors, and youth—to join the initiative and Say NO to violence against women and girls. Every action will be counted by Religions for Peace as well as by the Say NO record of activities on www.saynotoviolence.org. The objectives of the campaign are to increase awareness on violence against women and girls, share knowledge on the religious and spiritual assets and resources to prevent violence, and to join forces with survivors, women of faith and male religious leaders to advocate for increased resources.
Women survivors are powerful advocates in the call to end violence against women. As part of the Religions for Peace campaign, survivors are invited to share their stories of pain to inspire all people of faith to Say NO and take action. Religious leaders will be invited to deliver sermons and other addresses that underscore the principles and scriptures from their faith that promote the inviolable dignity and wellbeing of all.
The imagination, creativity and energy of youth will be channeled through this campaign to increase awareness on the pervasiveness of violence against women. By taking part in the Inter-Faith Youth Poster Competition, by writing a blog or a song, or by starting a group on a social networking site, young men and women, girls and boys can join in and Say NO.
For more information about Religions for Peace and its campaign, please contact Ms. Jackie Ogega, Director of the Women’s Mobilization Program, at 212.687.2163 or jogega@religionsforpeace.org.
