Gender Justice
YMCA is a world-wide Christian, ecumenical, voluntary movement for women and men with special emphasis on the genuine involvement of young people. It seeks to share the Christian ideal of building a human community of justice with love, peace and reconciliation for the fullness of life for all creation.
Each member YMCA is therefore called to focus on certain challenges which will be prioritised according to its own contexts- that includes:
• Empowering all, especially young people and women to take increased responsibilities and assume leadership at all levels and working towards an equitable society.
• Advocating for and promoting the rights of women and upholding the rights of children
(Excerpts from Challenge 21)
The APAY adheres to the guiding principle of Challenge 21; hence commitment for the Gender Justice remains an integral part and a mandate in the YMCA, especially in the Asia and Pacific region. APAY initiates the promotion of Gender Equity in all levels with a community-specific approach. It affirms that the quest for the elimination of discrimination of gender-based violence and promotion of an inclusive society requires a collaborative undertaking irrespective of sex and gender. The YMCAs will continue to establish an inclusive environment by creating awareness and policies that promote and reflect gender justice and develop a mechanism that addresses gender issues, including sexual harassment. Through the Gender Justice initiatives, APAY increases dialogue and discussions on various perspectives, including the non-binary perspectives of gender.
Gender Justice is one of the main focus of the Quadrennial Program Plan (QPP) of the APAY with the following objectives:
- To cultivate a culture of gender equity and empowerment of women and girls at all levels through the creation of platforms of learning, reflection and exchanges of experiences
- To ensure the development of leadership skills, organizing and advocacy capacities of YMCA constituencies that promote reforms for equal opportunities for all at all levels
YMCA is a world-wide Christian, ecumenical, voluntary movement for women and men with special emphasis on the genuine involvement of young people. It seeks to share the Christian ideal of building a human community of justice with love, peace and reconciliation for the fullness of life for all creation.
Each member YMCA is therefore called to focus on certain challenges which will be prioritised according to its own contexts- that includes:
• Empowering all, especially young people and women to take increased responsibilities and assume leadership at all levels and working towards an equitable society.
• Advocating for and promoting the rights of women and upholding the rights of children
(Excerpts from Challenge 21)
The APAY adheres to the guiding principle of Challenge 21; hence commitment for the Gender Justice remains an integral part and a mandate in the YMCA, especially in the Asia and Pacific region. APAY initiates the promotion of Gender Equity in all levels with a community-specific approach. It affirms that the quest for the elimination of discrimination of gender-based violence and promotion of an inclusive society requires a collaborative undertaking irrespective of sex and gender. The YMCAs will continue to establish an inclusive environment by creating awareness and policies that promote and reflect gender justice and develop a mechanism that addresses gender issues, including sexual harassment. Through the Gender Justice initiatives, APAY increases dialogue and discussions on various perspectives, including the non-binary perspectives of gender.
Gender Justice is one of the main focus of the Quadrennial Program Plan (QPP) of the APAY with the following objectives:
1 To cultivate a culture of gender equity and empowerment of women and girls at all levels through the creation of platforms of learning, reflection and exchanges of experiences
2 To ensure the development of leadership skills, organizing and advocacy capacities of YMCA constituencies that promote reforms for equal opportunities for all at all levels
The Gender Equity Committee met online to chart out the 16 Days of Activism against GBV
On September 26, 2024, from 4 PM to 6 PM HKT, ten members participated in an online meeting. The meeting began with a word of prayer by Dr. Betsy Williams. The primary focus was to plan the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, scheduled from November 25 to December 10. The discussion centered on creating safe spaces and ending gender-based violence, with various activities proposed to engage members and YMCAs across the Asia Pacific region.
Committee members were given a structured format to share their ideas for observing the 16 Days of Activism, which included:
- Proposing an activity
- Detailing the contents/process of the activity
- Providing the rationale behind the activity
- Outlining implementation steps
- Discussing potential impacts
Members contributed innovative ideas to creatively engage YMCAs in the APAY region. Additionally, they expressed concerns about ongoing conflicts and violence worldwide, urging YMCAs to advocate for peace in affected areas.
The GEC decided to invite all YMCAs in the APAY region to participate in creating safe spaces and ending gender-based violence. The meeting was moderated by the chairperson Marshia Mili Gomes.
YMCA MADURAI WOMEN’S DAY CELEBRATION
YMCA Madurai
Women’s Day Celebration
Women’s Day was celebrated at YMCA Madurai on 9th March 2024. 65 staff members from various service projects of YMCA Madurai, participated with great joy and enthusiasm. Competitions on various games and rangoli was conducted. A debate on the topic “Is investing on education alone enough for women to accelerate progress?” was conducted and the staff team participated with much interest.
Ms. J. Shamila Doris, General Secretary, YMCA Madurai welcomed the gathering and the guests. Fr.J. Benedict Barnabas, President, YMCA Madurai delivered the presidential address. He said women’s empowerment is a human right. He quoted, Karl Marx’s statement ‘Great Social Changes are impossible without feminine upheaval’ and Gandhiji’s prayer which says, ‘Make me more Womenly’. He wished every woman to be the seeds of change in the community. Dr. Janet Vasanthakumari, Chairperson, Women's Concerns Desk, YMCA Madurai, greeted the gathering and emphasized on the necessity of acquiring life skills by women. She appreciated the participation of men in the program. The Special guest Dr. Sudha Dheep, Obstetrician & Family Physician, Taj Hospital, who is also the Co-Founder, TOPKIDS Foundation, talked about the internal well being of women. She stressed the need for Master Health Check up for women and men and shared about the precautionary measures to prevent cancer. She also informed about the available vaccinations and the need for Pap Smear Test that helps to find conditions such as infections or inflammations in cervix which leads to cancer. Ms.D. Priscilla, Board Member, YMCA Madurai and Ms.Judith Kirubakaran, Member of the Women’s Concerns Desk were also present on this occasion. Prizes were distributed to the winners in various competitions.
Ms.J.Shamila Doris
General Secretary
YMCA Madurai
International Women’s Day Celebration-2024
Theme: “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress” #Inspire Inclusion
Venue: Savar YMCA Office Premises, St. Mother Teresa Road, Dewgaon, Savar, Dhaka / Date: 8th March 2024
Organized By: Savar Young Men’s Christian Association
International Women’s Day is a global celebration held yearly on March 8th to commemorate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. It is also a day to advocate for gender equality and women's rights worldwide.
Savar YMCA celebrated the International Women’s Day 2024, very significantly with the involvement of the local women’s leader in the area of Savar. The theme of the day was: “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress”. The Theme highlighted the transformative power of investing in women and underlines the importance of prioritizing gender equality as a catalyst for positive change and progress in society. It serves as a rallying cry for individuals, organizations, and governments to take action and commit to supporting women's empowerment and advancement.
Invest in Women: This involves allocating resources such as mentorship, training programs, and support networks to empower women and girls. Investment can take various methods, including educational investments in girls' schooling, and policy investments in women's health and rights. Savar Young Men’s Christian Association always tries to give space for the women, organizing activities which prioritize women, also giving opportunities to lead the Savar YMCA activities; not only that women are members of the Board of Savar YMCA. Investing in women is not just about improving outcomes for women themselves but also about advancing gender equality for all. It involves challenging categorizations, knocking barriers, and creating opportunities for women to flourish in all aspects of life. Gender equality benefits everyone and is essential for building an open-minded and more prosperous world.
Accelerating Progress: By investing in women, societies can accelerate progress towards gender equality and overall development. We can see in our society when women are empowered, they are able to contribute to economic growth, social stability, and improved outcomes in areas such as education, health and also political representation. Their participation leads to more diverse perspectives, innovative solutions, and inclusive decision-making processes.
This 8th March 2024, Savar YMCA celebrated the day with the women leaders, almost 130 women and 30 men were participants in this celebration at the premises of Savar YMCA office, St. Mother Teresa Road, Dewgaon, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh. It started early in the morning at 8:00 a.m. with prayer service. There were sharings from two prominent women as the main speakers. Women leaders from their respective organizations were provided opportunities to share. The session was about three and half hours and almost twenty different organizations shared their opinions and thoughts with the participants. The participants got new insights and learning experiences, vital for developing their understanding of gender equality and women's empowerment. Highlighting the importance of involving men and boys in the conversation about gender equality can lead to new understandings of unity and collaboration, co-responsibility, and the benefits of gender equality for all members of society, not just women. After the sharing, there was time for open discussion from different organizations.
After a short tea break, a cultural program was organized. The program included varieties of items highlighting the works of women, managing their family, working outside, and the challenges they face in day to day life. It also portrayed how women at present, manage their families, participate in different social activities and in leadership in community and at the national level. The performance of all the teams of the organization was excellent and entertaining at the same time very meaningful. The cultural program took about two hours. Four of the team performed short skits with beautiful messages and other teams performed either dance or songs. Our International Women’s Day program ended with a late lunch. All the participants enjoyed the lunch. After lunch our program was formally concluded.
By Ronel Francis Costa, General Secretary, Savar Young Men's Christian Association