In Basel, where Mission 21 is headquartered, this evening the Elisabethen Open Church in orange. It sends a signal against the ongoing violence against women and girls, also here in Switzerland. A current study of the Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH), for example, shows how Swiss mothers are subjected to coercion during childbirth. Thus, 27% of the mothers surveyed stated that they were pressured, unilaterally informed and intimidated during childbirth or that treatment was given without their consent. One in ten reported being insulted or devalued by health workers.
Motherhood and violence
In Switzerland, various organizations have joined the international campaign "16 Days against Violence against Women*" connected. The theme of this year's Swiss campaign is Motherhood and Violence. It shows that motherhood is multifaceted and how mothers in Switzerland are affected by psychological, physical and sexualized violence. Mission 21 is a partner in this campaign coordinated by the feminist peace organization cfd.
Violence against women is more topical than ever, as another pandemic has spread in the shadow of the Corona pandemic: Triggered by increased stress and curfews, domestic violence cases are rising dramatically worldwide. School closures and job losses have also led to more girls being abused and forcibly married. At the same time, curfews make it difficult to get help. To curb this violence and discrimination against women and girls, a broad approach is needed, one of which is advocacy.
Using advocacy to combat violence and discrimination against women and girls
The goal of advocacy is to give discriminated and disadvantaged people a voice so that they can publicly demand their rights. Through an annual advocacy training for women's human rights, Mission 21 empowers activists from its partner churches and organizations to speak out against discrimination against women and girls in their country. Because Mission 21 works with people at the grassroots level, the community's most pressing issues can be identified and addressed.
Through this year's advocacy training, held online in October and November, Mission 21's locally engaged partners gain access to a global network of faith-based organizations working for gender justice. They gain the knowledge they need to raise awareness of human rights violations at the UN and national levels. For example, they learn how to use the most important human rights instrument for women's rights: the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
A strong alliance against violence against women*
The training is organized by Mission 21 together with the Lutheran World Federation, the World Council of Churches, the Church of Sweden, Finnish Church Aid and Act Alliance. It enabled over 70 participants* from all over the world to exchange ideas. Networking is important because only together can demands such as better protection against domestic violence during curfews be enforced. Strong alliances must also be formed to give a strong voice against the misuse of religion by fundamentalist movements.
Activists from Mission 21 partner countries were able to share their experiences. Obertina Johanis from Indonesia reported on how her network of theologians reads the Bible with a feminist perspective. And Silvia Regina de Lima Silva, director of the Ecumenical Research and Training Center DEI in Costa Rica, gave insight into her campaign "What Really Matters," which presents an alternative to misogynist fundamentalism. Through global engagement, sharing and networking, women and girls affected by violence and discrimination are given a voice. Together, they can better fight violence and oppression.
â–º Campaign 16 Days against Violence against Women* in Switzerland
â–º The Mission 21 program for gender justice
