Note #9183 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:
06147 March 7, 2006
The church is 'slow' to recognize equality of women, WARC leader says
International Women's Day is both a celebration and a call to action
by Ecumenical News International
GENEVA - The rights of women in church and society are still not guaranteed, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) warned on the eve of International Women's Day, March 8.
"The church is still slow in recognizing the urgent call for women's equal partnership with men in all areas of ministry and witness," said the Rev. Patricia Sheerattan-Bisnauth, executive secretary of WARC's office for Church Renewal, Justice and Partnership.
The United Nations has designated March 8 as International Women's Day since 1975, but the roots of the commemoration go back to the beginning of the 20th century.
Sheerattan-Bisnauth described the day as an opportunity to celebrate the gains made by women while drawing attention to the need for gender awareness and policies that support the equality of women.
"In spite of all the advancements made, women's rights have not been guaranteed to the optimum level," she said. "The fact remains that the majority of the poorest people in the world are women. The average woman, even in developed countries, still receives less pay than the average man for the same work.
"And even with all the legislation passed around the world, violent crimes against women, particularly rape and domestic violence, not only continue unabated but have been rising in the last decade."
Sheerattan-Bisnauth was quoted in a statement released by WARC, which represents 75 million Reformed Christians in 218 churches in 107 countries.
Germany's top Protestant bishop, Wolfgang Huber, marked the international day by urging action to stop the trafficking of women for enforced prostitution.
WARC's general secretary, the Rev. Setri Nyomi, issued a call "to the church family and society at large to never let up in pursuing justice for women. Until we have that we will never have true justice."
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