Wewillspeakout.us

07/15/2021

10/15/2018

We will STILL speak out.

Changes in opinion against victims have been slightly stronger among women than men

09/27/2018

One month to go until the . Join the Global Woman Peace Foundation on the National Mall October 27 to tell the world there's no place for female ge***al mutilation. Register here: https://wizathon.com/walk2endfgm/

Funds from this event this year will help GWPF acquire a women’s community center, including restorative surgery, professional counseling and physical therapy.

09/19/2018

Faith leaders: what you say about sexual assault and other forms of violence speaks volumes!!!!

Graham says he believes this is a smear campaign. (What victims hear: If your abuser is powerful or rich, don’t bother speaking up because no one will believe you.) But, he also says that if what Ford says IS true, then Kavanaugh “respected” when Ford said no. That they were “just teenagers.” But if what Ford says is true, how is holding his hands over her mouth “respecting” her? Are teenagers’ experiences of abuse irrelevant?

Why are faith leaders making pointed political statements when there are hearts that need healing? When there are people seeking spiritual guidance for living in a broken world? TOTAL MISSED OPPORTUNITY TO BE AN ACTUAL MINISTER OF GOD’S WORD

Evangelist Franklin Graham was recently a guest on CBN News, and was asked about accusations facing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. A woman named Christine Blasey Ford says that when

09/19/2018

“As a faith-based, global public health agency, IMA World Health is committed to ensuring health, healing and well-being is available for all God’s children. Our work combating sexual and gender-based violence globally drives us to do more about it in the U.S. context. The effects are no less horrific here than in the developing countries where we work. We know caring faith communities respond to need. But in responding to abuse and harassment, we have much work left to do. Our next generation of faith leaders need to be prepared to preach about prevention from the pulpit, create a safe space within their churches and lend their voices to the movement for lasting change in our society.” -- IMA World Health CEO and President Rick Santos on why IMA co-sponsored the Broken Silence 2.0 report with Sojourners. Learn more about this update on pastors' views of sexual and domestic violence here: https://wewillspeakout.us/broken-silence/

More pastors than ever say they are expected to respond to domestic and sexual violence but report having little or no training to do so.

09/18/2018

Our voices are being heard. and are gaining ground with Protestant pastors in the US—but there's more work to do.

Learn more in the new Broken Silence 2.0 report: https://wewillspeakout.us/broken-silence/

IMA World Health, Sojourners, LifeWay Research

More pastors than ever say they are expected to respond to domestic and sexual violence but report having little or no training to do so.

09/18/2018

Thanks to Bob Smietana and Baptist Press for this coverage of Broken Silence 2.0. https://bit.ly/2QCnJGd

IMA World Health, Sojourners, LifeWay Research

A new LifeWay Research study shows more pastors say they are addressing domestic or sexual abuse issues from the pulpit. Still, half say they lack training in how to address sexual and domestic violence.

09/18/2018

Thank you to Adelle M. Banks at Religion News Service for her coverage of Broken Silence 2.0 at the Religion News Association's annual conference. https://religionnews.com/2018/09/18/survey-shows-more-pastors-preach-about-abuse-in-metoo-age/
IMA World Health Sojourners LifeWay Research

COLUMBUS, Ohio (RNS) — The survey by LifeWay Research offers a detailed look at Protestant pastors’ attitudes and actions related to abuse and harassment.

09/18/2018

BREAKING NEWS: More pastors than ever say they are expected to respond to domestic and sexual violence but report having little or no training to do so. Find more details and analysis in the new We Will Speak Out report, "Broken Silence 2.0: an update on pastors’ attitudes and actions around domestic and sexual violence in the era."
View the full report here: https://wewillspeakout.us/broken-silence/
(Survey sponsored by IMA World Health and Sojourners, conducted by LifeWay Research.)

More pastors than ever say they are expected to respond to domestic and sexual violence but report having little or no training to do so.

09/14/2018

I have experienced abuse at the hands of multiple perpetrators. One was a romantic partner who led a ministry for my former church. The other was a spiritual leader with

08/10/2018

“It is a radical act, believing women. It shouldn’t be, but it is. The Church, which has long taught that we all bear the image of God, could pave the way for a cultural revolution by demonstrating the baseline amount of love and respect due the image of God by believing the words of the women who bear it.” AMEN!

There is no limit to the awful things surrounding the implosion at Willow Creek Community Church over the last few weeks, as the pastoral staff, the board of elders and

06/20/2018

Our friends at the Center for Partnership Studies will host a free webinar Wed, June 27: "Questions You Asked: Further Conversations on Domestic Violence, Social Justice, and Faith." We urge you to attend to learn from these incredible experts! http://bit.ly/2HLMTfJ

We heard you! The response to our May webinar “Uncovering the Roots of Violence: New Perspectives on Domestic Violence, Social Justice, and Faith,” was overwhelming. Participants from all over the world raised incisive questions that call for further conversation, so we are reconvening our panel...

05/11/2018

Thank you Julia Baird for this excellent piece in the The New York Times Opinion Section about the faith community's role in speaking out against domestic violence. We're proud that Broken Silence helped to inform your research! https://nyti.ms/2rA91nV
Sojourners

The point is not whether church communities are more prone to domestic violence. It’s that they are not immune from it.

05/03/2018

This is how sexual violence gets normalized in the Church.

Current Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary president Paige Patterson has come under fire in recent days for resurfaced comments in which he encouraged women in abusive relationships to stay with

05/02/2018

"We cannot truly preach the Good News until we are ready to reveal the bad news of the harassment and violence at work in many of our churches and homes." --Jenna Barnett, Sojourners http://bit.ly/2rf41VX

Both at Willow Creek and at High Point, brave women came forward, and brave allies stood by them.

05/01/2018

Last week, we asked men why it's important to be leaders in their communities to support survivors and fight sexual assault . This week, we asked: How are you working to to prevent sexual assault? The individuals you'll hear from below reaffirm that there are so many

04/21/2018

Come chat with us at Ecumenical Advocacy Days! It’s encouraging to be around so many people who want to make the world a better place. Ecumenical Advocacy Days

03/28/2018

How are you addressing relationship violence on your campus?

Join the JWI-led National Alliance to End Domestic Abuse for a webinar to explore the newly released American College Health Association's toolkit, "Addressing Sexual and Relationship Violence: A Trauma-Informed Approach."

Two of the authors will introduce tools and resources adaptable for individual organizations to implement trauma-informed education programs, response, and care on campus.

By the end of the presentation, participants will be able to:
• Identify several public health models
• Discuss trauma and its impact
• Define trauma-informed systems
• Identify key components for trauma-informed systems

Register here: https://conta.cc/2ILXJnJ

This webinar explores the newly released American College Health Association’s toolkit, “Addressing Sexual and Relationship Violence: A Trauma-Informed Approach.” The webinar aims to introduce tools and resources adaptable for individual organizations to implement trauma-informed education progra...

03/26/2018

Very interesting and thorough new report from the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security on how the UN could and should better use sanctions to prevent and curb sexual violence in armed conflict and address the impunity of perpetrators. http://bit.ly/2Gtdh1d

Report | 2018 Executive Summary The United Nations Security Council can use sanctions to advance its commitment to address conflict-related sexual violence. UN sanctions—specifically the designation criteria and the subsequent listing of sanctioned individuals— could and should be better used to...

03/13/2018

“Faith leaders can be social change agents. They should respond to violence: Our faith does not condone this. You have a right to safety.” -- Deborah Rosenbloom, Vice President of Programs, JWI

This evening, women of faith gathered to speak out about engaging religious leaders to help reduce, and ultimately end, gender-based violence. The panel discussion took place as part of activities related to the UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York. Episcopal Relief & Development partnered with the Wewillspeakout.us coalition and affiliated organizations for the event.

03/13/2018

Watch LIVE: Women of Faith Speak Out on Engaging Religious Leaders

03/13/2018

TODAY at the UN Commission on the Status of Women: "Women of Faith Speak Out on Engaging Religious Leaders." This free event brings together a diverse group of women with deep experience in working with clergy to end gender-based violence.

More details here: http://bit.ly/TodayISpeakOut

03/12/2018

Faith leaders are often the first people in whom a survivor of abuse will confide. Too often, these faith leaders do not have the training or connections to help. Thanks to Sojourners for publishing this op-ed, written by the Rev. Amy Gopp on behalf of We Will Speak Out U.S., on why and how our faith communities must do more and better for those suffering from sexual or domestic violence.
http://bit.ly/2FMGUKA

Here's a five-step resource for faith communities to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence.

03/09/2018

Headed to the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women? Join Wewillspeakout.us for an exciting free event, "Women of Faith Speak Out on Engaging Religious Leaders." This panel discussion brings together a diverse group of women with deep experience in working with clergy to end gender-based violence.

More details here: http://bit.ly/TodayISpeakOut

12/07/2017

VAWA 2018 Reauthorization Youth/Prevention Provisions Webinar

The process of drafting the next reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act has begun, and you are invited to help shape the content related to Youth and Children, Prevention, and Engaging Men and Boys provisions in the current VAWA. Futures Without Violence, the ABA Commission on Domestic & Sexual Violence, Break the Cycle and Jewish Women International are hosting a webinar to gather your ideas about how these provisions should be revised to meet current needs. Thursday, December 14, 2017, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM EST. Register here: https://www.jwi.org/calendar/vawa-2018-youth-prevention-webinar

The process of drafting the next reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act has begun, and you are invited to help shape the content related to Youth and Children/Prevention/Engaging Men and Boys provisions in the current VAWA. In partnership with Futures Without Violence, The ABA Commission

12/05/2017

On , People Share Their Stories of Sexual Harassment in the Church

Have you been following ? What are your reactions? While it's not surprising, it's heartbreaking that our sacred spaces can be most violated by those who should be most trustworthy. http://bit.ly/2iVQlxQ

The wave of powerful, influential men being toppled by the stories of their victims has rolled through Hollywood, Washington D.C. and the highest levels of the news media. Unfortunately, American churches are far from immune from predatory behavior. And now, some survivors are telling their stories ...

12/01/2017

How are you or your organization observing the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence? Please let us know in the comments.

11/14/2017

As a coalition that works to end violence against women and girls globally, Wewillspeakout.us welcomes the introduction of the International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA) by Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), and Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA). This hallmark bill addresses the violence that women and girls face daily – sometimes even hourly – around the world and makes ending it a central U.S. foreign policy priority.

recognizes that violence against women and girls is embedded in cultural and societal norms of unequal status and power, requiring a long-term approach that fosters personal, community, and societal changes. The solutions to preventing and responding to such violence require all of us - advocates, elected officials, and international leaders – to stand in solidarity across the globe to end gender inequality and address the injustice of violence.

We applaud the introduction of this urgent bill since, now more than ever, women and girls deserve a chance to live a life free from violence. We urge Congress to swiftly consider and pass the International Violence Against Women Act to empower women and girls, along with their communities and nations, to end the violence.

Urge your elected representatives to cosponsor this legislation! Search at http://www.senate.gov/ to find the name and contact information for your Senator.

10/21/2017

UN Women

UN Women

"This is about both women and men changing their response to acts of sexual aggression and acting in solidarity to make it visible and unacceptable. Good men should not be quiet spectators." Our Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka comments on movement: http://unwo.men/ESuS30fZEWk

10/20/2017

In 1997, Sacred Circle, the National Resource Center to End Violence Against Native Women, was established.

This month marks the 30th anniversary of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. NCADV is honoring 30 accomplishments made during that time and is sharing one accomplishment on social media each day throughout October.

10/18/2017

Alyssa Milano

After the flood of stories that women from all walks of life shared over the past few days, we're now calling on the men to help us take it to the next level and enact real change in the world.

10/17/2017

JWI

JWI

Today we're discussing a faith response to deportation of domestic violence survivors.

Our panelists are:
1. Silvana Arista, Attorney and Project Coordinator at CLINIC Legal
2. Naomi Strindberg, Senior Director at HIAS
3. Aisha Rahman, Esq., Executive Director of KARAMAH
Moderator: Deborah Rosenbloom, JD/MPA, VP of Programs and New Initiatives, JWI

10/17/2017

Join us and the National Alliance to End Domestic Abuse this Thursday, October 19 at 12pm EST for a webinar about the intersection of domestic violence and religion.

Survivors and families of faith who experience domestic violence have unique challenges and opportunities in seeking guidance and support. To best serve these marginalized survivors, advocates can benefit from deepening their understanding of this population.

Register here: http://bit.ly/2geCldN

10/16/2017

Wewillspeakout.us's cover photo