Latin American churches tackle gender and domestic violence

-02/10/06

More than sixty


Latin American churches tackle gender and domestic violence

-02/10/06

More than sixty participants, including psychologists, students, teachers and church leaders from Paraguay, met for a Congress on Domestic Violence last month (September 2006). The Congress, held at the MisiÛn de Amistad, was convened by the Pastoral de Mujeres y GÈnero (Church-associated Action Group on Women and Gender) of the Latin American Council of Churches (CLAI), by MisiÛn de Amistad and the Disciples of Christ Church.

An interdisciplinary team of professionals led the workshops: Psychologist Sonia Fanego, Sociologist and Professor Rodolfo GÛmez and the Rev Judith Van Osdol from CLAI. Their work was based on audio-visual materials from the CLAI campaign “Homes of Peace? Peace starts at home”, an initiative within the framework of the World Council of Churchesí Decade for Overcoming Violence.

GÛmez addressed the theme of violence from a gender perspective, explaining the background of patriarchalism, inequality of power and privilege, as well as the need for gender awareness to overcome the issue of domestic violence. ?

ìIt was great to work as a team, and above all to hear the importance and impact of gender from a manî, said pastor Van Osdol. ìThe joint participation of men and women, along with the participation of young people in the group also has a strong impact”, she added.

The Latin American Council of Churches promotes workshops, publications and meetings in its campaign “Homes of Peace” throughout Latin America. Partially focused on the number of women murdered in the region, workshops are scheduled in strategic locations in Central America in November.

ìTraining, both for treatment and prevention, is the key to overcoming domestic violence” declared Van Osdol. “We hope these workshops will be the first step in a continuous process toward a greater commitment in overcoming all other types of violence”.


Latin American churches tackle gender and domestic violence

-02/10/06

More than sixty participants, including psychologists, students, teachers and church leaders from Paraguay, met for a Congress on Domestic Violence last month (September 2006). The Congress, held at the MisiÛn de Amistad, was convened by the Pastoral de Mujeres y GÈnero (Church-associated Action Group on Women and Gender) of the Latin American Council of Churches (CLAI), by MisiÛn de Amistad and the Disciples of Christ Church.

An interdisciplinary team of professionals led the workshops: Psychologist Sonia Fanego, Sociologist and Professor Rodolfo GÛmez and the Rev Judith Van Osdol from CLAI. Their work was based on audio-visual materials from the CLAI campaign “Homes of Peace? Peace starts at home”, an initiative within the framework of the World Council of Churchesí Decade for Overcoming Violence.

GÛmez addressed the theme of violence from a gender perspective, explaining the background of patriarchalism, inequality of power and privilege, as well as the need for gender awareness to overcome the issue of domestic violence. ?

ìIt was great to work as a team, and above all to hear the importance and impact of gender from a manî, said pastor Van Osdol. ìThe joint participation of men and women, along with the participation of young people in the group also has a strong impact”, she added.

The Latin American Council of Churches promotes workshops, publications and meetings in its campaign “Homes of Peace” throughout Latin America. Partially focused on the number of women murdered in the region, workshops are scheduled in strategic locations in Central America in November.

ìTraining, both for treatment and prevention, is the key to overcoming domestic violence” declared Van Osdol. “We hope these workshops will be the first step in a continuous process toward a greater commitment in overcoming all other types of violence”.