wfn.org | WCC NEWS: Campaign addresses violence against women and

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World Council of Churches - News Release
Contact: + 41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363 media@wcc-coe.org 
 

For immediate release: 25 October 2004

CHURCHES' WORLDWIDE CAMPAIGN TO ADDRESS VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN

Churches worldwide will address violence against women and children within the framework of a World Council of Churches (WCC) campaign, "On the wings of a dove".

 From 25 November until 10 December 2004, churches and church-related organizations will be promoting increased public awareness, and attempting to bring justice and healing to those who have suffered or are still suffering from violence. Worships and prayer vigils, discussions and exhibitions are examples of the campaign activities planned for the 16 days.

In particular, the campaign is designed to encourage the churches to develop
pastoral and practical responses to various forms of violence by providing a
safe space for women to tell their stories, by offering counseling both to
survivors and perpetrators of violence, and by linking with other groups and
movements working on overcoming violence.

Organized within the framework of the WCC Decade to Overcome Violence
(2001-2010), the campaign addresses various kinds of violence against women
and children on both the political and domestic levels. Violence in the
family, sexual violence, violence against women and children in war areas,
children's work, female genital mutilation or discriminatory laws are
examples of the multifaceted nature of violence against women and children.

The campaign will be launched at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva where,
amongst others, women from the Sudan Council of Churches and the Community
Development Association (Khartoum) will share their experiences.

Liturgical material, Bible studies and reflections as well as books, films,
articles and exhibits to be used for campaign-related worship and other
activities are available on the web (see below). The material comes from
different regional and social contexts, and thus helps to address the
respective forms of violence that may vary depending on the context.

The 16-day campaign begins on the UN International Day for the Elimination of
Violence Against Women on 25 November, and lasts until the International
Human Rights Day on 10 December. It coincides with the 16 Days of Activism
Against Gender Violence, an international campaign initiated 1991. 

The campaign's theme is taken from the Bible's book of Psalms, and expresses
the hope that, with God's help, it may be possible to escape even hopeless
situations "on the wings of a dove" (Ps. 55). 

More information on the campaign, including resources and activities, is
available at
http://www.overcomingviolence.org 

Additional information: Juan Michel,+41 22 791 6153  +41 79 507 6363
media@wcc-coe.org 

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The World Council of Churches is a fellowship of churches, now 342, in more
than 120 countries in all continents from virtually all Christian
traditions. The Roman Catholic Church is not a member church but works
cooperatively with the WCC. The highest governing body is the assembly,
which meets approximately every seven years. The WCC was formally
inaugurated in 1948 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Its staff is headed by
general secretary Samuel Kobia from the Methodist church in Kenya.