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This is a text-only version of an article first published on Wednesday, 15 June 2016. Information shown on this page may no longer be current.
by Alison Bennett
THE first major review of violence against women this year showed that 30 per cent of women worldwide have experienced domestic violence.
WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan said 'Violence against women is a global health problem of epidemic proportions'. The 16 days of Activism is an international campaign which aims to increase awareness of this issue.
It starts on 25 November and ends on 10 December.
Mothers' Union holds special consultative status at the Commission on the Status of Women at the UN where violence against women and girls is regularly on the agenda.
This year when the topic was discussed, the final statement contained wording suggested by the Mothers' Union on which all could agree. In Papua New Guinea where between 70 per cent and 100 per cent of women report abuse, Mothers' Union members are educating communities to change their ways.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo where 48 women are raped every hour, Mothers' Union facilitates the integration of women and girls back into their communities after they have been abandoned by soldiers who abducted, raped and forced them to be their slaves.
(The men in the villages had previously been turning away these victims and their babies, conceived from rape). In South Sudan, where 59 per cent of women report abuse, those who have attended the Mothers' Union Literacy and Financial Education programme say that men have stopped abusing them as they now have their respect. Here in the UK, where a quarter of women report abuse, Mothers' Union often provides toiletries and underwear for women in refuges and home starter packs when they are re-housed.
Members have lobbied successive governments for a change in the benefits system so that these women do not have to wait so long for financial aid. Men also suffer domestic abuse and whilst the numbers are much lower, we should be mindful of this and remember them (and the perpetrators) in our prayers, although this campaign is specifically about women. Alison Bennett, Mothers Union Social Policy Contact for Oxford Diocese
THE Bishop of Oxford the Rt Revd John Pritchard will be one of 57 Church of England bishops taking part in the White Ribbon Campaign on 25 November. Bishop John will be wearing a white ribbon as part of a national campaign against domestic violence.
It is linked to the First Man Standing, a church-based response calling on men to be the first standing against gender based violence. For more on how parishes can get involved see www. restoredrelationships. org and www. whiteribboncampaign.org.uk.