The elimination of all forms of violence against women and children, including trafficking, is one of IAWN's priority concerns. Below are some resources to help us raise awareness and take action.
Every year Anglicans around the Communion get involved with the annual 16 Days of Activism, 25 November to 10 December, to draw attention to the continuing realities of gender-based violence in all its forms and to recommit to bringing the gender-just values of our faith to our different contexts.
Explore resources and some of the ways Anglicans have been involved with the 16 Days of Activism here:
The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is an international campaign which takes place each year between 25 November (the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) and 10 December (Human Rights Day). The campaign is a good opportunity to speak out about domestic abuse, early and forced marriage, female genital mutilation and the many other forms of violence against women and girls.
The Anglican Communion’s Director for Gender Justice, Mandy Marshall, wants to hear from your province and diocese about any plans you have to mark the 16 Days and how you will raise awareness during this time. These will be shared across our social media platforms. Please send details by email to [email protected].
During the 16 days campaign in 2023 the International Anglican Women's Network are sharing events, prayers, and actions from around the Anglican Communion. Follow online via Anglican Communion Facebook page (link), the IAWN Facebook page International Anglican Women's Network | Facebook, X/Twitter @AnglicanWorld and @AnglicansEndGBV and share using #16daysofActivism #Anglican
The Red Chair Project is a campaign, part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence, encouraging individuals, organisations and churches to reserve a chair marking the void left by each and every one of these women and girls
Highlighted below is a prayer from Bishop Vicentia Kgabe, Diocese of Lesotho, Province of Southern Africa.
More information available at the Christian Network for Ending Domestic Abuse
In every country, gender-based violence is a tragic reality. This violence is frequently hidden, and victims are often silent, fearing stigma and further violence.
We all have a responsibility to speak out against violence, to ensure that women and men, boys and girls, are safe from rape and violence in homes, schools, work, streets – in all places in our societies.
The campaign is simple but profound. Wear black on Thursdays. Wear a pin to declare you are part of the global movement resisting attitudes and practices that permit rape and violence. Show your respect for women who are resilient in the face of injustice and violence. Encourage others to join you.
More informaiton available at Thursdays in Black
Anglicans and the 16 Days. Learn. Pray. Be Inspired. Act (2013). An information resource from the Women in Church and Society department at the Anglican Communion Office.
We Will Speak Out: Working Together to end Sexual Violence. A coalition of like-minded churches and Christian organisations who together commit themselves to working towards the end of sexual violence across communities around the world.
A crack, a slap, a painful plea, a poem written by the Rt Revd Laura J Ahrens, Bishop Suffragan, The Episcopal Church in Connecticut.
Sixteen Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence. An annual, international campaign that runs from 25 November, the International Day Against Violence Against Women to 10 December, the International Human Rights Day.
In Fiji, the House of Sarah, a project of the Association of Anglican Women working to build equal and respectful relationships within Fiji's families, churches, schools and communities, has posted resources for the 16 Days in local languages.
Loving one another: A biblical discussion toolkit on gender-based violence. The Scottish Episcopal Church and Christian Aid have collaborated to produce this resource based on material tried and tested by the Anglican Church in Brazil (Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil).
Hand in Hand: Bible studies to transform our response to sexual violence - a resource to equip churches to have a positive impact in preventing and responding to sexual violence in their church and community, published by Tearfund 2015
At the heart of prevention efforts Think Prevent in the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne, Australia, puts faith leaders, and young men and women, who would like to be role models and promote prevention of gender-based violence in their community.
Break the Silence (2013). A sermon on Luke 10.29-37 by Ann Drummond, Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand & Polynesia, in the context of the Sixteen Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence.
Responding to Domestic Abuse: Guidelines for those with pastoral responsibilities (2006). A Church of England resource with guidelines for good practice at parish and diocesan level.
Clapping With Both Hands: Promoting Gender Equality – 15 Studies of Good Practice (2012). Gender report of the Action by Churches (ACT) Alliance.
Life Abundant for All God's People: A gender-based violence Bible study This Bible study published in 2015 by the World Mission Council in Scotland biblical texts and stories from World Mission Council partner churches. The resource includes reflections and discussion points prepared by people from across the church.
Prevenção e Enfrentamento a Violência Doméstica contra Mulheres (2014). Em agosto 2013 o SADD lançou a primeira Cartilha de Prevenção e Enfrentamento a Violência Doméstica contra Mulheres. Essa publicação se esgotou em poucos meses e em abril 2014 foi lançada essa segunda Cartilha. Also in Spanish and English.
Promoting equal and respectful relationships in faith communities (2012), produced by the Diocese of Melbourne, Anglican Church of Australia to support Anglican leadership in the work of primary prevention that aims to stop violence against women before it occurs.
Church Action on Domestic Abuse (2009). An example of a diocesan resource giving parishes information and advice for combating domestic violence and supporting victims.
The White Ribbon Campaign is a global initiative to ensure men take more responsibility for reducing the level of violence against women. Wearing a white ribbon is a personal pledge to never commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women and girls. White Ribbon in Brazil, Canada, UK, Australia, Pakistan, Scotland, Aotearoa New Zealand.
Praying for an End to Violence Against Women, liturgical resources from the Anglican Church of Australia for White Ribbon Day and related occasions.
UNHCR Hanbook for the Protection of Women and Girls (2008) is used by UNHCR and its partners and could be of use to local parishes, for example, the chapters on 'Strengthening participation of women and girls', 'Working with men and boys', etc. The handbook is included in interactive CDs available from UNHCR in French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian.
The Ujamaa Centre for Biblical and Theological Community Development and Research in Southern Africa has resources for contextual bible study, including a ‘Contextual Bible Study Manual on Gender-Based Violence’, associated with the Tamar Campaign which works primarily with women and young girls who are the survivors of gender violence, but also addresses male socialization.
Addressing Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (2009), UN document captures innovative strategies by peacekeepers, from firewood patrols in Darfur, to market escorts, night patrols and early-warning systems in DRC, or rehabilitating civilian infrastructure in Haiti. It describes direct and indirect tactical efforts to combat sexual violence and sets out a checklist of emerging elements for an effective strategic response.
Restoring Dignity: A Toolkit for Religious communities to end Violence against Women includes sections on the various forms of violence against women; the intersection of violence against women with HIV/AIDS, poverty, war and conflict, education and awareness, prevention, advocacy etc.
Domestic Violence Handbook: For clergy and pastoral workers (2010), by the Joint Churches Domestic Violence Prevention Programme in South Australia. Handbook describes the forms and patterns of domestic violence, explodes some of the myths, and offers guidelines for clergy and lay workers in responding to domestic violence.
Domestic Violence – how should my church respond? (2011). A resource from the Churches’ Child Protection Advisory Service, UK.
Created in God's Image: From Hegemony to Partnership. A Church Manual on Men as Partners: Promoting Positive Masculinities (2010) This set of guidelines for discussion, theological reflection and bible study, was developed by the World Council of Churches and the World Communion of Reformed Churches and aims to strengthen men's role in ending gender violence.
Primates' Letter to the Churches regarding Gender Based Violence following their meeting in Dublin, January 2011 in English, French, Spanish, Swahili, Portuguese.
Tearfund report: Silent No More (2011).Thereport sets out conclusions from Tearfund-sponsored research in DRC, Liberia, Rwanda and Burundi into the persistence of sexual violence against women and girls. It highlights the silence of the church and the part played by churches in reinforcing the stigmatisation of victims/survivors. It also contains recommendations for how churches can speak out, change attitudes, and offer pastoral and practical care.
Together we must is a joint UNIFEM/ActionAid publication which acknowledges the intersection of the pandemics of gender based violence and HIV/AIDS, and reviews 'promising practices' in addressing that intersection. These promising practices cover such areas as cultivating men as allies, empowering youth, and building an integrated approach in the health sector. Available in English, French and Spanish.
The One Man Can Campaign supports men and boys in taking action to end domestic and sexual violence and HIV/AIDS, and in promoting healthy, equitable relationships that men and women can enjoy - passionately, respectfully and fully. The campaign website has a wealth of resources including workshop activities and action sheets. Toolkit available in Xhosa, Zulu, French, Arabic, Afrikaans, English.
Addressing Violence against Women and HIV/AIDS: What works? (2010), by the World Health Organization and UNAIDS. The report provides a summary of existing evidence on the intersections between violence against women and HIV/AIDS, and interventions to address these. It provides policy and programmatic recommendations for national and international HIV/AIDS programmes and for future programme development, evaluation and research efforts.
Issue Brief: Stopping violence against women and girls for effective HIV responses, by the Global Coalition on Women and AIDS. It describes the links between violence against women and HIV, with a focus on what is needed to address these linkages better, meet women's prevention, treatment and care needs, and uphold the rights of women and girls.
