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Adventist Leaders Support UN Projects to Combat Gender-Based Violence

New York, NY... The United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) announced on August 7 grants totaling over $1 million to support projects targeted toward gender-based violence, such as sexual abuse, rape, "honor" crimes, and domestic violence. The United Nations is also calling on government officials and the legal community to treat acts of violence against women and girls as criminal offenses.

Statistics collated over a 30-year period reflect a global epidemic of physical, sexual and cultural violence against women and girls. Last year in the U.S. alone, 4 million women were reported battered by their husbands or partners. In Columbia, 94 percent of all assault victims were women. In Australia, homicides solved by police between 1968-1981 revealed that 42.5 percent occurred within family relationships. In Bangladesh, 50 percent of women murdered were victims of domestic violence. Among women 12 years and older, 133,000 will be victims of rape. A British study noted husband against wife violence is as many as one in three marriages.

In a study completed in parts of seven world geographical divisions of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, initiated by its Department of Family Ministries in 1994, revealed significant levels of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. "Our church is not immune to such challenges," says Dr. Jonathan Gallagher, United Nations liaison director for the Adventist Church. "We take very seriously such issues and identify with the U.N. programs that seek to end such gender-based violence. As a former pastor myself, I have seen the terrible damage inflicted on women and on families as the result of domestic violence. This is totally unacceptable, and is in complete opposition to Christian values and behavior."

"In my recent travels, I was appalled at how women are treated by their communities when they attempt or leave their abusive partners," says Heather-Dawn Small, associate director for the Department of Women's Ministries for the Adventist Church. "Often cultural traditions come into play, and therefore, the various ministries of our church, together with leadership, need to promote awareness and re-educate the mindset of our membership." The Department of Women's Ministries is also encouraging all faith communities to be involved in the August 24 Abuse Prevention Emphasis Day.

The Department of Family Ministries of the Adventist Church has produced a special kit called "Peace and Healing: Making Homes Abuse Free," for ministers and leaders to more effectively minister to victims and connect these victims to resources within the community.

"Scripture affirms the value of every person and their right to be treated with dignity and respect," says Karen Flowers, co-director for the Department of Family Ministries for the Adventist Church. Flowers also said that the responsibility to protect the vulnerable and to come to the aid of persons whose well-being is threatened by abuse and violence is a Christian mandate. "The call of the gospel to care and support one another in love is totally incompatible with the use of power to control, violate, and molest.
We commend the United Nations for this timely initiative, and we join the wider faith community in a strong commitment to the support of victims."

Flowers explained that the Church's support of victims in need of safety includes identifying the challenges, directing victims to resources available to them, providing practical help and encouragement; provide education, prevention, and the training of pastors and church leaders. To get more information or to obtain statements released by the Adventist Church, visit the following web sites: http://wm.gc.adventist.org, and http://familyministries.gc.adventist.org. [Viola Hughes]

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