Interfaith Responses to Gender-Based Violence: A Fireside Chat

The International Youth Committee of Religions for Peace has committed this year, 2023, as a year to work on the worldwide issue of Gender-based violence. Gender-based violence (GBV) is a form of injustice which affects millions of girls and women in the world and is deeply rooted in structural, and institutionalized gender norms and practices. According to UN WOMEN, “Globally, an estimated 736 million women – almost one in three – have been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both at least once in their life (30 per cent of women aged 15 and older).” GBV is a leading cause of death, physical and mental illness, and disabilities of women and girls of all ages. The impact on women and children witnessing violence and their environment is tremendous. GBV is a barrier to women’s equal rights to participate in all structures of society, citizenship, and access to and control over resources.

Advancing gender equality is one of the thematic areas of Religions for Peace. Recognizing that GBV is intricately linked to gender inequality, Religions for Peace is committed to take the lead through multi-religious collaboration. This event, Interfaith Responses to Gender-based Violence: A Fireside Chat, follows the commitment that the International Youth Committee (IYC) made at the recent 2023 Parliament of World Religions in Chicago, IL., USA, that took place in August. While at Parliament, the IYC led 2 workshops on GBV, speaking to their various regions and successful actions and initiatives that they have led and/or been a part of.

It is against this backdrop that this fireside chat will engage several outstanding Religions for Peace leaders, by diving deeper into the topic of engaging multi-religiously and multi-collaboratively to advance women’s dignity and address gender-based violence.

Full Concept Note and Draft Agenda

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