The topic of violence against women and girls is universal - women experience violence in all countries, cultures and social environments

 

The Catholic Church with its patriarchal and hierarchal structure, is no exception. Sexualised violence is common, used as an instrument of power in a context that demands submission. To this day, women are denied the right to sexual self-determination by the Catholic Church and Bishops worldwide openly oppose laws that serve to protect women from violence.

 

The CWC therefore believes that it is important to focus on violence against women in the Church. This includes, sexual and spiritual abuse of women, the disregard for women's human rights, doctrines that deprive women of their rights, various forms of domestic violence, the refusal of the Catholic Church to sign the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination and Violence against Women (CEDAW) and the Istanbul Convention.

 

We cordially invite you to take part in the campaign, for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

 

Here you will find various events, liturgies, demonstrations, online story sharing, etc. that our organisations are planning for the days of action.  You are invited to use these resources in your programme.

We also provide information about events by our member organisations on this topic.

 

As a global network, we aim to provide perspectives from as many countries as possible. It is precisely this networked perspective that helps us to raise the issue of violence against women in the necessary spectrum.

Please understand that we cannot translate all resources provided.