Größeres Risiko von Gewalt gegen Frauen in der ökonomischen Krise

Der Reformierte Weltbund zum Internationalen Frauentag am 8. März

Geneva (ENI). Women are at higher risk of violence during the current economic crisis, yet the world is paying less attention to their needs, says the World Alliance of Reformed Churches. In a statement to mark International Women’s Day on 8 March, the Reformed churches alliance expresses concern that violent crimes against women, particularly rape and domestic violence, are on the rise at the same time that support for programmes to protect women is under threat. "The world seems to have become almost immunised to the stench of violence against women," said Patricia Sheerattan-Bisnauth, WARC's spokesperson on gender issues, in the 5 March statement.

Der Reformierte Weltbund (WARC) meldet:

The economic crisis is putting women at higher risk of violence yet the world is paying less attention to their needs, says a global church organization. In a statement issued to mark International Women’s Day (8 March), the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) expresses concern that violent crimes against women, particularly rape and domestic violence, are on the rise at the same time that support for programmes to protect women is under threat.

“The world seems to have become almost immunised to the stench of violence against women. Dowry-related deaths, honour killings, female genital mutilation, and rape as a weapon of war continue with impunity. Women and girls are sold in slavery as trafficking of persons across the globe for sexual and economic exploitation thrives,” says Patricia Sheerattan-Bisnauth, WARC’s spokesperson on gender issues.

“We cannot continue to ignore the plight of women and girls who are attacked in their homes or are targets of war crimes," says WARC’s general secretary, Setri Nyomi. “WARC calls for renewed commitment to accelerate rather than slow down the process of seeking to end violence against women and girls and to bring about justice.”

Poor women in poor countries suffer the most from the impact of the economic crisis, says Sheerattan-Bisnauth. Increased social unrest due to unemployment, rising food costs and disputes over scarce resources such as water and land, lead to rising levels of violence with women and girls most vulnerable to attack. Yet, warns Sheerattan-Bisnauth, funding for programmes designed to protect and empower women is being reduced. “Cuts to funding for social safety nets for the vulnerable – the elderly, sick, disabled and those in family crisis – exacerbate the situation”, Sheerattan-Bisnauth adds.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) warns that the world’s poorest countries are now being hit by what it terms the “third wave” of the downturn after first affecting the advanced and the emerging economies and says poor countries face greater exposure to the current crisis because they are more integrated into the international economy than they used to be. “This puts at risk the major achievements of higher growth, lower poverty, and greater political stability that many low-income countries have made over the past decade,” says the head of the IMF, Dominique Strauss-Kahn.

In responding to the crisis, churches in communities worldwide are seeking to counter the rise in violence through initiatives which engage both men and women. In ecumenical services to be held around the world on 6 March to mark the Women’s World Day of Prayer, the focus will be on one of the countries cited by the IMF as most at risk from the economic crisis. Women from churches in Papua New Guinea have written the liturgy for the annual service drawing on Biblical texts about the role of women in facing oppressors and citing modern day stories of women daring to meet for peace talks with rebels in remote areas of the country and to intervene to seek peaceful resolution in local tribal disputes.

“WARC celebrates the efforts of the women of Papua New Guinea to bring peace to their communities,” says Nyomi. “And we call on men to join with women in partnership in these initiatives.”

 


Barbara Schenck

Eine Bewegung gegen den Strom: zwei weltweite Kirchennetzwerke schließen sich zusammen

Hauptauftrag der neuen Weltgemeinschaft Reformierter Kirchen: Einheit der Kirchen und soziales Engagement
Die beiden größten Netzwerke protestantischer Kirchen der reformierten Tradition treffen sich vom 18 bis zum 28. Juni 2010 in Grand Rapids im Nordosten der Vereinigten Staaten; um eine neue Organisation zu bilden. Das drückt einen neuen Stand der Beziehungen zwischen zwei Kirchenfamilien aus, die einst auch voneinander getrennt waren.

Kristine Greenaway (WARC), Genf (gekürzt), 7. Juni 2010; Übersetzung: Stefan Maser

Schweiz / SEK: Globalisiert reformiert

Wipf: ''Gemeinschaft sein ohne hierarchische Struktur''
«In Grand Rapids fällt ein historischer Entscheid: Aus der weltweiten Allianz der Reformierten wird eine theologisch fundierte Gemeinschaft», sagte Thomas Wipf, Präsident des Schweizerischen Evangelischen Kirchenbundes SEK, an der Tagung der Schweizer Reformierten vom 27. Mai 2010. Damit haben sie sich auf den Gründungsakt der Weltgemeinschaft Reformierter Kirchen WRK vom 18. bis 27. Juni 2010 in Grand Rapids (Michigan, USA) vorbereitet.

Schweizerischer Evangelischer Kirchenbund SEK, Medienmitteilung, Bern, 28.5.2010
A respected American Indian religious educator and cultural consultant is to be a featured speaker at an international gathering of Reformed churches in the United States this June. Richard Twiss, a member of the Rosebud Lakota/Sioux Tribe, will address the founding meeting of the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) in Grand Rapids.

Reformierter Weltbund, 22. April 2010

WRK: Bibelarbeiten ''Das ist unsere Familie''

''Einigkeit im Geist durch das Band des Friedens''
Fünf Bibelarbeiten zur Vorbereitung auf die gemeinsame Generalversammlung des Reformierten Weltbundes (RWB) und des Reformierten Ökumenischen Rates (REC) zur Bildung der Weltgemeinschaft Reformierter Kirchen (WRK) in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA vom 18. bis 27. Juni 2010. Als PDF zum Download auf www.reformedchurches.org

Barbara Schenck
An international panel of pastors and theologians is drafting a 'manifesto' on church unity and social justice for a new global organisation of Reformed churches. The text is to be presented in June to the Uniting General Council (UGC) of the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) in Grand Rapids, United States.

Barbara Schenck

Weltgemeinschaft Reformierter Kirchen: Eine Stärkung des ökumenischen Miteinanders

Bukowski: ''Innerreformierte Aufspaltung in zwei Weltbünde wird endlich überwunden.''
Vor der ''Vereinigenden Generalversammlung'' von Reformiertem Weltbund und Reformiertem Ökumenischem Rat. Ein Gespräch mit Peter Bukowski, dem Moderator des Reformierten Bundes.
Leaders of two global networks of Reformed churches set to merge in June have issued a statement declaring their commitment to a continued focus on justice concerns following the merger. The text includes specific reference to racial justice.

WARC, 10 February 2010

WCRC: Uniting General Council

Newsletter Januar 2010
Volunteers Still Needed for Historic Merger - WCRC Uniting General Council Schedule of Main Events

Barbara Schenck

Die neue Weltgemeinschaft Reformierter Kirchen (WRK)

Ein bedeutender Schritt auf dem Weg zur Versöhnung reformierter Kirchenbünde
Ein Bericht aus update – Dezember 2008 zur Bildung der Weltgemeinschaft Reformierter Kirchen (WRK) als Zusammenschluss von Reformiertem Weltbund (WARC) und Reformiertem Ökumenischen Rat (REC).

Quelle: die reformierten.upd@te 08.4