Churches Stand Firm for Equal Rights on International Women's Day

8th March, marked International Women's Day. Churches, aid agencies and human rights activists joined the voice of all women across the world to fight for equality and protection. Yesterday, saw massive campaigns being held in both Western and Eastern countries.

Women’s rights have been, in fact improved a lot throughout the past few decades, proved by the increasing role of women in society. However, sexual abuse, violence, human trafficking and many other issues continue to exploit the rights of females in many developing countries or in times of war.

According to the Geneva-based World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), women and girls in Bangladesh, Colombia, Greece, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Sudan face huge danger of torture and rape. However in many cases, the perpetrators were not even arrested or penalised. Also many victims of sexual abuse do not report the crimes due to shame and fear of reprisals.

In some extreme cases, under certain religious systems of the country, victims of sexual violence are threatened with expulsion from their homes and community or penalised by flogging and stoning.

In anticipation of Women’s Day, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) addressed the United Nation's Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW) currently being held in New York. Sherattan-Bisnauth of Guyana, Executive Secretary for the Department of Partnership of Women and Men of WARC, joined the WCC delegates to the UNCSW.

The WCC delegates’ statement reads, "Violence is the most widespread and persistent human rights violation. The churches have to play a vital role in healing and in reconciliation. Additionally they are encouraged to be more proactive in assessing their own structures and in condemning openly all forms of gender based violence, including domestic and sexual violence, structural violence and all forms of traditional violence."

"Churches are called upon to make violence against women a priority," the delegation added.

The delegation agreed that the trafficking of women and children for sexual exploitation is one of the burning new issues to be dealt with. "Churches can use their worldwide structures and networks and their significant roles in communities to take strong action, to lobby for legislation, policies, institutional mechanisms, education and awareness."

A press release from Norwegian Church Aid yesterday also called for Norway's and the world’s concern over human trafficking involving women. It explained that human trafficking is the third largest illegal trade in the world after weapons and narcotics. According to UN statistics around 4 million people are currently victims of this cruel industry, most of them are women and children.

The WCC delegation said, "In this time of heightened insecurity of war and conflicts, rape and sexual violence has increasingly become a tactic of war. Women are especially vulnerable as their bodies become a means for demoralising and destroying women, their families and communities."

During World War II, many women in Asia were forced to be sex slaves for Japanese soldiers. Yesterday, former Filipino sex slaves protested outside the Japanese embassy in Manila to mark international women's day. They are demanding reparations and a formal apology from the Japanese government.

"Acknowledging that churches have valuable experience in conflict management and peace building, we call to their attention the need to include gender perspective in shaping and implementing policies and programmes," the WCC stated.

"Let us pray for healing and transformation where women and men can live in true partnership with mutual respect and love."

In Brazil, a march known as the Women's Global Charter for Humanity kicked off yesterday supported by thousands of women. The march demands equal social and political rights and will go to 53 countries and end in Africa in October.