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	Women's Inter-Church Council of Canada 47 Queen's Park Cr. E. Toronto, ON M5S 2C3 T. 416-929-5184 F. 416-929-4064 wicc@wicc.org

Violence Against Women

The Spirit of God’s work for love and justice flows like water,
like never-ending streams:
comforting the wounded;
calling those who have wounded to repentance;
challenging traditions which are rigid and violent;
envisioning new relationships where every voice is heard.
O Healing River, send down your waters!

Churches today are working to end violence against women. As Christians we are part of God’s healing river that is bringing love and justice to our world. We want to end the reality of women being abused by their partners. We want women and children to live without the fear of being sexually assaulted. We want to create a society where women can live without fear of violence.

Violence against women is a priority issue for WICC as seen in various aspects of our program and resources:

WICC has developed educational tools in the resource Healing Waters to help churches address violence against women
Since 1989 the year of the Montreal massacre, WICC has offered an annual service for December 6, the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women.
WICC works with other organizations and churches to address the violence experienced in our society by Aboriginal women. WICC promotes the Sisters in Spirit campaign of the Native Women’s Association of Canada and the Stolen Sisters campaign of Amnesty International as well as local efforts across the country. The Making Waves issue on the theme “Still Walking: Aboriginal Women lead the struggle against violence” addresses both the historical and present day conditions that contribute to this violence.
Trafficking in women is being addressed by various faith-based organizations and WICC is part of a coalition of these groups bringing together their expertise and constituencies to effect change. The Making Waves issue on the theme “Releasing the Captives” addresses trafficking from a faith perspective.
WICC works in coalition with other women’s organizations to address societal changes required to end violence against women and to call our governments to account for legislating these changes.
WICC Project Grants support grassroots women’s organizations seeking to help women caught in the web of violence both in Canada and other countries.
The WICC Coffee Party invites groups to organize gatherings to learn about and support efforts to end violence against women.
The On the Wings of a Dove program brought a gender analysis in 2004 to the Decade to Overcome Violence (2001-2010) initiated by the World Council of Churches. The WCC publication Streams of Grace (2005) presents “good practices” developed by churches around the world. WICC’s Healing Waters is included as well as other worship material, books, and campaigns.