Faith Leaders Counter Rise of Gender-based Violence

Protests against rising femicide – the killing of women due to their gender – erupted in Bogotá, Colombia, following the brutal killing of a mother and daughter this past June. Experts pointed to the country’s strict Coronavirus lockdown, which saw a dramatic increase in violence against women. The rate of violence was likely even higher, as lockdown restrictions further limited women’s ability to seek support.

The country began to reopen in September, but Colombia’s Femicide Observatory reported a record number of femicides: 86 women killed in one month.

Everyone in the country has been forced to reckon with the increase in gender-based violence and femicide this year: stories have dominated news waves while activists have flooded the streets. People of faith, making up 95 percent of the country, have undoubtedly been deeply impacted by this violence. Religions for Peace’s Interreligious Council in Colombia (RfP Colombia), took a holistic approach to address the violence through direct action. Their efforts were supported by Religions for Peace’s flagship Multi-religious Humanitarian Fund, which provides resources for diverse faith groups to work together to address pressing challenges in their countries and communities.

Rt. Rev. Francisco Duque-Gomez, an Anglican bishop and leader of RfP Colombia, noticed another side-effect of the pandemic impacting homes across the country: an increase in requests for care and support for children, as observed by the Colombian Institute of Family Welfare. The dangerous pandemic by-products of increased violence against women and lack of familial support provoked RfP Colombia to launch a webinar series entitled “Creating a Culture of Respect and Peaceful Resolution of Family Conflicts.”

RfP Colombia tapped into the resources of multiple faith communities to launch this series of webinar trainings. One church set up a Zoom webinar account and provided technical support. Volunteers from a different church offered to send out invitations and follow-up emails. Because of the virtual nature of this advocacy, RfP Colombia was able to promote the webinars beyond the borders of Colombia. Faith leaders from the Anglican, Adventist, Baptist, Buddhist, Hare Krishna, Islamic, Lutheran, Mennonite, and Pentecostal traditions from across Latin America joined.

Historically, religious intolerance has been one of many factors fuelling violence in the country. Gradually, through the dialogue space created by RfP Colombia, these faith traditions are learning to meet and work together.

Thus far, 400 people participated in six webinar trainings and another 1,000 have watched on Facebook live. Bishop Duque is “convinced that violence in general has roots in domestic violence. This work is necessary to build social and family relationships that lead to a fairer and more equitable society.”

All webinar trainings are accessible here (Spanish language):

• Development of social skills: how to handle anger, rage, enhance assertive communication and resilience (16 September)
• Forms of violence and abuse in the family, especially against women (30 September)
• Guidelines for the management of abuse and violence in the family (14 October)
• Educate in dialogue, expression of feelings, mutual acceptance and happiness at home (21 October)
• Routes of attention for cases of violence based on gender (11 November)
• Psychosocial care strategies for women victims of gender violence (18 November)

You can help us continue to foster trust and cooperation among the world’s faith communities by donating to the Fund here.