International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
November 25th is a day that the UN has designated as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Violence against women and girls is one of the most widespread and persistent human rights violations in our world today, affecting every country and every community, in some way.
1 in 3 women worldwide have experienced sexual or physical violence at some point in their life. And in the majority of countries with available data, less than 40% of the women who experience violence seek help of any sort due to reasons attached to fear and shame. Women and girls are disproportionately subjected to violence, including femicide, sexual violence, intimate partner violence, honor killings, trafficking and harmful practices. Women and girls are also disproportionally deprived of access to education, job opportunities, and basic medical care, in turn, leaving them even more vulnerable to violence.
Because we hold a high value for women and believe every woman is an image bearer of God, created with inherent dignity, value, and worth, we sense a responsibility to acknowledge the suffering of our sisters here and abroad.
Learn
Visit the UN’s website to learn more about this day, read books, and talk with others in our community about this topic. Education is the key to knowing how to best care for these women.
Shop
We’d encourage you to shop wisely this holiday season. Consider where clothes are made and who is being impacted by your purchases. 80% of those employed in sweatshops are women. So consider these realities, shop intentionally, and with purpose this season. Visit these female empowering companies:
Enabling high potential, talented young women in Uganda to continue on to university through skill building.
A not-just-for-profit business that provides job training to women overcoming adversity in Portland.
A renowned international inspection and certification agencies for fair trade accountability.
Ethical headwear and accessories empowering makers toward a brighter future.
Humanizing the apparel industry through ethical manufacturing and celebrating makers.
Working together to unmake violence and create the more beautiful world our hearts know is possible.
Challenging the culture of the fashion industry by creating transformative opportunities for women.
Pray
Pray for those with a lack of access to medical care and education. Pray for those who have and are experiencing trafficking, and practices like female genital cutting. Pray for the families of those who have experienced femicide and pray that this practice would end once and for all. Pray for women across the world who have experienced and are experiencing sexual assault and domestic abuse, above all, pray for God’s kingdom to come in the lives of our sisters around the world as it is in heaven.
Partner
Throughout the year, Bridgetown supports work around the world that provide greater care and opportunity for women and girls. Whether in full or in part, our friends work day in and day out to create a safer, more honoring world for women. Check out the work of these organizations and learn how you can support them:
Lowering the maternal and neonatal mortality rate in Haiti, one mother and baby at a time.
Coming alongside local innovators who are spearheading projects that will transform Northern Uganda.
Building communities of hope that provide homes for refugees and providing wholistic care to those in need.
A safe haven for girls rescued from abuse, neglect, and trafficking in Managua, Nicaragua.
A nonprofit committed to ending child sex slavery through prevention in Southeast Asia and beyond.
Overcoming poverty and injustice while confronting gender inequality and giving woman the change to rise up.
Abolishing slavery everywhere, forever. To see a world where women are no longer sold for sex.
A health organization empowering those affected by suicide through research, education, and advocacy.
An organization with the mission to serve all people affected by domestic violence.