16 Days of Activism Against Gender – Based Violence November 25 – December 10
Last Updated (Thursday, 26 November 2020 11:20)
Dear Colleagues in the National Movements of APAY,
Greetings of Peace and Solidarity!
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is an annual international campaign that begins on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and continues until 10 December, the Human Rights Day. It is used as an organizing strategy by individuals and organizations around the world to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls. In support of this civil society initiative, the UN’s UNiTE campaign calls for global actions to End Violence against Women.
Even though the UN UNiTE campaign has set the theme of this year for the 16 days campaign "Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect!", we at the Asia Pacific YMCAs (APAY) have chosen the theme Together We Stand Against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence and invite men and women to actively participate in the 16 days of the campaign. We as YMCA actively taking part in the global campaign of 16 days of activism against sexual and gender-based violence against women, is an affirmation to the Challenge 21 that we believe in a gender just and inclusive society and this is a sign of commitment for our constituencies.
Since the 16 days of activism are dedicated from November 25 to December 10 you are free to choose one or several days to observe the campaign according to your convenience. We have prepared a liturgy on the topic.
You might like to use the same liturgy or adapt, or you can prepare your liturgy/ worship order to observe in your respective movements. We also invite you to participate in the 16 days of activism in different ways. Some ideas of your participation are mentioned at the bottom of the liturgy.
We will be happy to receive your news of 16 days of activism. So please do share with us through emails, or you can share on our Facebook page of Asia Pacific YMCAs.
Wish you all a very meaningful participation in the 16 days of activism against GBV!
| Meerha Hahn | Sunita Suna |
| Chairperson – Gender Equity Committee – APAY | Executive Secretary for Programs - APAY |
Sixteen Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence
November 25 to December 10
Together We Stand Against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence
ORDER OF WORSHIP
WORDS OF WELCOME
INVOCATION (Music can be played to prepare for the worship)
CALL TO WORSHIP
God of Life,
Because you love, you inspire.
Because you create, you motivate
you call us to be the stewards of your creation with greater commitment
You have instilled new life, new hopes, and a new vision in us.
We seek your presence with open hearts
Inspire us with the Holy Spirit.
Let us worship the creator God; for we are called to be
God’s fellow workers for the restoration of the whole creation.
HYMN/SONG (please select songs/Hymns according to your choice)
BIBLE READING: GALATIANS 3:28
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free,
nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
REFLECTION (you can invite a person to reflect on the text or consider a round of reflections from the participants)
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
We believe in our God
Who created woman and man in God’s own image
To live in communion and harmony
With people, nature and God
We believe in Jesus Christ
The liberator of this world
Who broke the culture of silence
By affirming the status of women in society
Who called us to build a human community with love, dignity, justice and peace
We believe in the Holy Spirit
That empowers us to stand firm
Who renews and restores the integrity of the creation
Helping all people to grow together towards wholeness of life - Amen.
HYMN/SONG (please select songs/Hymns according to your choice)
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION (The members are invited to add to the prayer of intercession below)
Leader: God we pray and seek justice for about 50 per cent of the world’s poor – who are women, live in abject poverty due to the unequal distribution of resources and unjust economic policies and structure. The Covid19 pandemic has worsened the situation of the poor, especially women.
Response: God in your mercy, turn us to you to transform the world
Leader: God we uphold in our prayer the millions of women and girls who are trapped in the organised crime of trafficking. Women who are experiencing social, physical, sexual, and psychological violence, we pray and work for a violence-free world for everyone to live in dignity.
Response: God in your mercy, turn us to you to transform the world
Leader: God, we remember the women and men in our prayer who are committed and working against gender-based violence to restore an equal and just society. We join hands in strengthening the work of the community.
Response: God in your mercy, turn us to you to transform the world
Leader: God of justice, help us to advocate against gender-based violence during the 16 days of activism and beyond. Help us to bring change in our family, church, community, and the society at large by promoting gender justice and inclusive community for all.
Response: God in your mercy, turn us to you to transform the world
UPLIFT PRAYERS AS NEEDED
PRAYER OF COMMITMENT INSPIRED BY THE LORD’S PRAYER
| Lift our hearts | |
| To give thanks and praise | All: So that together, we can say; |
| To respond to your call | Give us today our daily bread |
| To live out the good news | |
| And to be salt and light in the world | Give us the wisdom |
| To be open to questions | |
| All: So that together, we can say; | To recognise our failings and our gifts |
| Hallowed be your name | To seek unity |
| And to rejoice in your image in others | |
| Give us the courage | |
| To pursue peace | All: So that together, we can say; |
| To act for justice | Forgive us our sins |
| To work for freedom | As we forgive those who sin against us. |
| And to prepare the way of God | Lead us not into temptation |
| All: So that together, we can say; | But deliver us from evil. |
| Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on | |
| earth as in heaven | May we know the love of God, |
| Grow in the likeness of Christ | |
| Challenge and inspire us | And be open to the Spirit |
| To live simply | |
| To share what we have | All: For yours is the Kingdom, the power and the glory |
| To offer hospitality | |
| And to welcome strangers | Now and forevermore. Amen |
| BLESSINGS: (in unison) | |
| ALL: God incarnate come to us now | God the energizing spirit |
| Empower us to liberate, ourselves | Come bind us together |
| To journey from bondage to freedom | In solidarity and love |
| From discrimination to equality | In hope and faith |
| From darkness to light | Prod us into action |
| From falsehood to truth | To be energizers in this world |
| From death to life | So that your reign encompasses |
| The whole wide world | |
|
|
|
WE INVITE YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN THE 16 DAYS OF CAMPAIGN OF NOVEMBER 25 – DECEMBER 10 IN 10 DIFFERENT WAYS:
• Join the local civil society organizations campaign
• Observe the Thursday in Black https://www.oikoumene.org/what-we-do/thursdays-in-black
• Organize webinars at local level on GBV
• Participate at events/ activities organized by the Interfaith Cooperation Forum (ICF) for 16 days of activism
• Use social media to advocate and campaign to end GBV and use the #16daysofactivism and #APAYWOMEN
• Organize prayer meetings to worship together to end violence against women and girls (You can use the worship prepared here or adapt this worship, or prepare one in your local languages)
******************************************************************************************************
(Sources: Transforming Attitudes Towards Sexuality—AWRC, Reflective Liturgy for SCM
Women-WSCF-AP. 16 Day Prayer campaign for the elimination of all forms of violence against
women, DOV, WCC)
