FOCUS ON THE NEWS
United Nations invite women to be a voice to violence against women
"Although the United Nations is making progress, far more action is needed to help curb the global problem of violence against women. We live in a unique moment as a church in that we hold resources and strategies to help to educate our women and men to face this issue and be an active voice against it" said the Seventh-day Adventist Church Women's Ministries Director, Heather-Dawn Small, while attending the 54th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) on February 28 to March 9. Small applauded the ongoing effort of the church to implement the enditnow campaign throughout the 13 divisions and to implement the 4th Sabbath of August as the Abuse Prevention Emphasis Day at the local Church level. "These are ways women can be proactive and make a difference."
"Women and girls continue to experience violence at intolerably high levels," comments Raquel Arrais, GCWM Associate Director, who also attended the CSW Conference. "As women leaders we have tremendous moral and spiritual influence to be powerful agents for prevention, education, and advocacy" she added.
Katia Reinert, Health Ministry Coordinator for Washington Adventist Hospital, who attended CSW for the first time, said, "How fantastic to be at CSW and to meet hundreds of talented, compassionate women leaders from all over the world who were totally committed to partnering in improving the life and health of women and girls."
This year's CSW drew more than 7,000 women worldwide and about 100 member states from countries such as Senegal, China, Uganda, Brazil, Italy, Kenya, and Australia.
Joy Butler, responsible for the Adventist Health System in East Central Africa division, also attended the conference.
Touches of Life
South American Division
In November last year the Northeast Brazil Union Mission held a Women's Ministries spiritual retreat. With the theme "Touches of Life," the meeting brought together 120 indigenous women of various tribes.
Under the coordination of the pastoral couple, Arnulfo and Leide Alipaz, who are part of the Roraima Amazon Conference, the retreat addressed relevant issues about finance, child education, family, self-esteem, and evangelism.
In the closing segment of the meeting, one indigenous woman who had already been studying the Bible with a group of women from the Bananal Church, decided to be baptized. This was one of the most solemn moments of the meeting, where other visitors also decided to study the Word of God.
Source: SAD Women's Ministries
enditnow in Zambia
Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division
The president of the Zambia Union Conference, Pastor Harrington Akombwa, urged the church in Zambia to join hands to end violence against women and girls.
This took place on March 3 during initiative's local launch organized by the Women's Ministries Director, Beatrice Mwandil at the church's headquarters in Lusaka. After the launch, the officers, departmental directors, and staff members signed the petition sheet and the banner.
In attendance were Women's Ministries directors from all the conferences/fields in the Zambia Union, as well as the Southern Africa Indian Ocean Division Women's Ministries Director, Caroline Chola. These leaders were urged to go out to launch the program and gather as many signatures as they could. They were also requested to ensure that local coordinators were elected in each church to coordinate the program.
Source: SID Women's Ministries
