25 November marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. It launches 16 days of activism.
On the 25th November we mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, which launches 16 days of global activism to end violence against women and girls.
Catholics across the UK are invited to participate in 16 days of Activism with this calendar, produced in collaboration by CSAN, Safe in Faith, and the National Board of Catholic Women. Each day features suggested actions you can take – from strengthening your understanding of violence against women and it’s causes, showing support for organisations that stand alongside survivors, or seeking justice through tackling policies that exacerbate gender-based violence and harm.
This years’ calendar features actions that seek to highlight and confront the ways in which racism and anti-immigration policies prevent migrant women and other minoritised women from getting the support they need, exacerbating harm.
| Date/Event | Description |
| 25 November | International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women One woman is killed every 5 days by a partner or former partner in the UK. The Red Chair Project encourages churches to mark an empty chair in remembrance of women who are killed due to men’s violence, and call for change. Download a free resource pack. |
| 26 November | Signpost to support By directing women experiencing abuse to the right support, churches can play an important role in standing alongside women who are trying to leave or recover from abusive relationships. Share Safe in Faith’s signposting toolkit to help up skill your church leaders. |
| 27 November | Southall Black Sisters Southall Black Sisters have supported Black and minoritized women to live free from violence and abuse for over 45 years. They provide direct support to women and campaign against policies that make minoritised women more vulnerable to violence and abuse, including migrant women. Donate online to support their work. |
| 28 November | Faith on the 4th On the 4 day of the 16 Days of Activism we look at the unique role that faith communities and institutions can play in addressing violence against women. Take a look at the excellent publications of the Faith and VAWG Coalition who amplify the crucial work of faith communities. |
| 29 November | Safe in Faith is 4! Safe In Faith has now been working for 4 years to foster better support for survivors of domestic abuse in faith communities. Mark the occasion by printing posters to put up in your church, signposting women to key support. Safe in Faith also offer training for church leaders, including brand new training on domestic abuse across cultures. |
| 30 November | Reverse Advent Calendar Women leaving abusive relationships often find themselves facing huge financial challenges, leaving them more reliant on emergency services such as food banks for support. Instead of a traditional advent calendar, try a reverse calendar where you donate a different item each day of advent to your local food bank. Locate yours here! |
| 1 December | Take Action Against ‘no recourse to public funds’ ‘No Recourse to Public Funds’ is a Government policy that bars 2 million people from accessing essential social services when they face a crisis. Without this safety net, migrant women facing violence can find it more difficult to leave abusive relationships. Join the campaign to end this rule and email your MP. |
| 2 December | Stand Against Islamophobia There has been a significant rise in racist and gender-based violence directed towards muslim women due to far right hate campaigns. Reach out to your local muslim women’s organisation to ask how your church can stand in solidarity with them, and read this blog series on Islamophobia by the Faith and VAWG coalition. |
| 3 December | Support Safe Reporting Insecure immigration status is regularly used as a tool of control by abusive partners or employers, with migrant women fearing they will be deported if they report abuse. Read about Latin American Women’s Rights Service campaign for safe reporting mechanisms. You can also support their work for women with No Recourse to Public Funds |
| 4 December | Toolkit for Black Majority Churches The Black Churches Domestic Abuse Forum has designed a toolkit for churches keen to strengthen how they respond to violence against women. Find out more about their work, and if you attend a Black Majority Church you can download and share their toolkit with your church leaders. |
| 5 December | Understand what Domestic Abuse Looks Like Strengthen your understanding of what abusive behaviour in relationships looks like and how to respond. Read CSAN/Safe in Faith’s Do Justice guide on Domestic Abuse and The National Board of Catholic Women’s resource pack. Sharpen your knowledge with Bright Sky’s questionnaire. |
| 6 December | Ask for Mary Parish Offices can be an ideal place for women facing violence and abuse to safely reach out for support, when they are not safe to do so at home. Ask your church to join Safe in Faith’s ‘Ask for Mary’ programme and receive training so they can better support women access the services they need. Find out more. |
| 7 December | Day of Prayer We encourage you to take time today to pray for women facing gender-based violence, and for the Church’s response. |
| 8 December | FORWARD UK Are an African women-led organisation supporting African women and girls in the UK and globally who are facing abuse. Support their work with women and girls who are subjected to Female Genital Mutilation and other forms of abuse and violence against women. |
| 9 December | End Immigration Detention Immigration detention inflicts harm on everyone it touches, yet the UK government continues to practice it. Survivors of rape gender-based violence make up the majority of asylum-seeking women in detention. Join Women for Refugee Women’s campaign to stop putting women in immigration detention. |
| 10 December | Create a Safer future for Girls 16-19 year olds face the highest levels of domestic abuse of any age group, but relationship education in schools could tackle gender-based violence and support young people to live free from abuse. Check out End Violence Against Women’s campaign to tackle domestic abuse through education. |
You can also download the calendar:
Calendar – Domestic Abuse activism
Please share it with your parish, along with the accompanying resources, and encourage them to participate in initiatives which will help support victims and survivors and bring us closer to a world where women and girls can live in safety.
Catholic parishes can help fight the scourge of domestic abuse.
Booklet on Domestic Abuse published by the National Board of Catholic Women (NBCW).
Domestic abuse charities and refuges in your area
