The ACBC Office for Justice, Ecology and Peace invites you to attend a special on-line event to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

Date: Friday 25 November 2022
Time: 3:00 – 5:00 PM AEDT

Keynote speakers will be Bishop Vincent Long, Chair, Bishops Commission for Social Justice, Mission and Service, and Michael Jeh, Ambassador, Small Steps 4 Hannah, a foundation established by Sue, Lloyd and Nat Clarke, the family of Hannah Clarke and her three beautiful children who were murdered by her partner and their father in Brisbane in 2020.

Sr. Christine Caralan from Australian Catholic Religious against Trafficking in Humans (ACRATH) and Shatha Jego from Jesuit Refugee Services (JRS) will also present information on the resources and campaigns their organisations have developed for the 16 Days of Activism on Gender Based Violence which begins on 25 November.

This event will draw further attention to the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference’s 2022 – 2023 Social Justice Statement, Respect: Confronting Violence and Abuse.

Please register for the event here (External link to Zoom)

Please also share this invitation with your friends, colleagues and networks.

Peace

PETER ARNDT
Director, Office for Justice, Ecology and Peace
Bishops Commission for Social Justice, Mission and Service
GPO Box 368, Canberra ACT 2601

 

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The 2022 Social Justice Statement also points out that “family and domestic violence is a painful and complex reality for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities”. Image: ACBC.

This month, Friday 25 November, marks the United Nations (UN) International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is an annual international campaign that runs from 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to 10 December, Human Rights Day.

The global theme for this year’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, is “UNITE! Activism to end violence against women and girls”.

The 2022 Social Justice Statement speaks about the importance of listening to women and children, the drivers and enablers of violence, supporting respectful relationships and the importance of respect, dignity and justice, as well as transformation and hope. Image: ACBC.

In support of this call for global action to increase awareness, galvanise advocacy efforts, and share knowledge and innovations about GBV, the Catholic Archdiocese of Perth Safeguarding Program Office, in collaboration with the Justice, Ecology & Development Office, will undertake a prayerful awareness-raising campaign.

Perth Archdiocese campaign co-ordinators, Safeguarding Acting Director Barbara Blayney and JEDO Director Carol Mitchell said the campaign aligns with the ACBC 2022 -23 Social Justice Statement – Respect: Confronting violence and abuse and compliments the Safeguarding Program resource – A Pastoral Response to Domestic Violence.

This month, Friday 25 November marks the United Nations (UN) International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. In August this year, Australia’s bishops used their annual social justice statement to condemn the scourge of domestic and family violence, saying relationships must be “marked by respect and freedom rather than coercion and control”. Image: ACBC.

“By dedicating prayerful space to consider our call to action, we continue to embed the National Catholic Safeguarding Standards that call us all to live in the image of God,” Ms Mitchell said.

The campaign will also include Mass at 8 am at St Mary’s Cathedral on Friday 25 November.

 

 

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UNiTE! Activism to End Violence against Women & Girls!

Five years ago, the #MeToo movement, founded by activist Tarana Burke in 2006, exploded and sparked global mobilization creating a moment of urgency in preventing and responding to violence against women and girls.

Since then, unprecedented awareness and momentum have been created thanks to the relentless work of grassroots activists, women’s human rights defenders and survivor advocates worldwide to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls.

At the same time, there has been a rise in anti-rights movements, including anti-feminist groups, resulting in shrinking space for civil society, a backlash against women’s rights organizations and a rise in attacks against women human rights defenders and activists.

Supporting and investing in strong, autonomous women’s rights organizations and feminist movements is key to ending violence against women and girls.

That is why this 2022 theme is UNITE! Activism to End Violence against Women & Girls.

 

Join our 16 days of activism – 25th November to 10th December 2023

The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women will mark the launch of the UNiTE campaign (Nov 25- Dec 10) — an initiative of 16 days of activism concluding on the day that commemorates the International Human Rights Day (10 December).

This campaign, led by the UN Secretary-General and UN Women since 2008, aims to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls around the world, calling for global action to increase awareness, promote advocacy and create opportunities for discussion on challenges and solutions.

This years’ campaign UNITE! Activism to End Violence against Women & Girls will aim to mobilize all society to become activists for the prevention of violence against women, to stand in solidarity with women’s rights activists and to support feminist movements around the world to resist the rollback on women’s rights and calling for a world free from VAWG.

Among its activities, there is a UN official event that will take place on Wednesday, November 23 (10.00-11.30am ET.) You can follow the event on line through the UN Women Youtube channel or UN Web TV.

 

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