As we continue to fight the pandemic of the century – Covid 19 – there is a shadow pandemic that also continues to bedevil us . . . and that is the scourge of gender-based violence. Daily we learn more about the global effects of Covid 19, but are we aware of the impact of this health pandemic on the safety and well being of women, girls, and non-binary individuals? With the beginning of the “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV)” on November 25 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women), we turn our attention to this other significant public health challenge: the shadow pandemic of gender-based violence.
CUSO International reminds us that gender-based violence has not taken a pause; rather, the world is
seeing an alarming increase of violence faced by women, girls, and non-binary people. They are at a higher risk of experiencing household violence during times of crisis and the widespread job losses, economic and food insecurity, school closures, isolation, and stress related to the virus itself, are exacerbating violence around the world. Services for survivors are reporting a 30 to 60 percent increase in calls and police reports filed. What makes this current increase of particular concern is the fact that before the Covid-19 pandemic, 1 in 3 women globally experienced violence in their lifetime.
UN Women is the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. A global champion for women and girls, UN Women was established to accelerate progress on meeting their needs worldwide. However, the Anglican Church worldwide also helps women with their equality and empowerment goals through PWRDF. This is especially evident in the support of PWRDF with the Rape Hurts Foundation (RHF) in their Voices of Hope project.
Hellen Lunkuse W. Tanyinga founded the Rape Hurts Foundation (RHF) as a community-based organization in Jinja District, Uganda in 2008, in response to some startling statistics and her own personal experience. Ugandan women make up 51% of the population, but do not enjoy the same opportunities as men. One quarter of women ages 15 to 49 have experienced physical intimate partner
violence with less than 15% of cases being reported.
PWRDF is supporting RHF, as it empowers women to manage their socio-economic development. Through its programs, women are learning about their rights, health care, community participation and advocacy. Addressing women’s rights and sexual and gender-based violence is at the core of the work.
The world-wide Mothers’ Union recognizes that one of the most destructive weapons in the assault against the family today is that of gender-based violence, and the Mothers’ Union is joining in the fight against it. Violence or abuse perpetrated against anyone because of their gender identification, destroys lives. It rips families apart, devastates communities, and perpetuates the continued oppression of one half of the world’s population.
The scale of gender-based violence is simply staggering.
In many contexts, gender-based violence is scarcely spoken of, being considered a taboo subject; however, the impact of remaining silent about it is devastating. Silence allows gender-based violence to continue unabated, as well as condemning those affected to a voiceless and isolated existence. Speaking out is essential in order to: challenge societal attitudes and myths that allow gender-based violence to persist; ensure that survivors know they are not alone, and can access help, justice and healing; and to place pressure on governments and those in authority to take necessary action to combat it. Mothers’ Union around the world has been increasingly vocal in speaking out against gender-based violence, and the MU message is very simple: reduce the number of those affected by gender-based violence across the world from one in three to zero.
A small but significant step is the recognition of the White Ribbon Campaign (November 25 – December10 – World Human Rights Day) and its pledge to “never commit, condone, or remain silent about all forms of gender-based violence and discrimination.” The Anglican Church Women Board is asking that parishes recognize White Ribbon Sunday (November 21, 2021) by having men and women wear a white ribbon with the foregoing pledge. What better way to honour the Sunday
of the Reign of Christ the King than advocate for equal rights and well being for half the world’s population? Let’s bring the shadow pandemic of gender-based violence out from the dark and together work to eliminate the violence that we now know at least one in three women, girls, and non-binary individuals experience globally. Let’s do it!
