Christians seek to end violence against women

A new alliance to bring together Christians from around the world in a common goal to end violence against women is due to launch this summer.

After five years as International Director of Tearfund, Peter Grant will stand down in September 2010 in order to co-lead Restored, which is a new Christian alliance focused on ending violence against women. He will be a co-director of the new organisation, alongside Mandy Marshall, Tearfund’s Gender Adviser.

Tearfund will ‘incubate’ Restored over the next three years, and host the new alliance as it builds up its own capacity and identity.

Over the last eighteen months, Grant and Marshall believe that God has been calling them increasingly to work on a Christian response to violence against women.

"We are now in a position to launch Restored – a Christian alliance committed to transforming relationships and ending violence against women," said Grant.

"We hope that many UK organisations and partners around the world will want to join Restored, and that we will find ways to stand together as men and women in the family of God to bring an end to the unacceptable abuse that many women face."

Tearfund is one of the UK’s leading Christian relief and development agencies, working in over 50 countries around the world to tackle material and spiritual poverty, and has been involved in tackling stigma around gender for many years.

"While we will undoubtedly feel the loss of Peter moving on to Restored, we share his excitement at this new development and we’re proud to be hosting such a radical and vital alliance," says Matthew Frost, Tearfund’s Chief Executive.

"Violence against women takes many forms, and is clearly an issue for many of us here in the UK as well as in the poorest parts of the world, where Tearfund operates. We are honoured to be part of birthing Restored, and will continue to pray and work with the alliance for many years to come."