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 withthe 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
