Silent No More launched yesterday – it is a coalition of church groups, international aid agencies and an alliance of Christians who together commit themselves to see the end of sexual violence across communities around the world. The coalition currently consists of the following members:
- The Anglican Communion
- Lambeth Palace
- Tearfund
- Christian Aid
- Restored
The coalition came about as a response to the findings in Tearfund’s research report, ‘Silent No More‘ which documented the role of the church in response to sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Liberia. Sadly sexual violence is still an issue within the UK, and so this coalition is really important. The main basis for the campaign is the Pledge:
‘We recognise our failure to respond adequately to sexual violence and our role in marginalising those who have experienced its devastating consequences. We recognise that responding to sexual violence is essential in our work, in our communities and in our world. We commit to addressing sexual violence in our contexts to the best of our ability, aiming to end it in all its forms, together.
And so …
- We will speak out.
- We will be silent no more.
- We stand together in solidarity with the most vulnerable.
- We dedicate ourselves to finding lasting solutions; mobilising leadership at all levels.
- We will promote laws that model, protect and promote justice, enable healthy relationships and challenge those that don’t.
- We will work to ensure that these laws are enforced.
- We commit to take action together to see all girls, women, boys and men freed from the threat and impact of sexual violence across the world.’
