The presentation shares the faith-based response to sexual violence and details IMA World Health's role in We Will Speak Out, the faith-based coalition to address violence against women.

1. A coalition and movement
to mobilize the
faith community
against gender based
violence

2. Welcome!
WeWillSpeakOut.US Convening Co-Chairs
•Amy Gopp – Executive Director, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Week of Compassion
•Kirsten Laursen Muth – Sr. Director of International Programs, Episcopal
Relief & Development
IMA World Health, Host Organization
•Leila Nimatallah – Director of External Relations and Advocacy
•Emily Esworthy – Marketing & Relationship Manager

3. What is WeWillSpeakOut.US
Mission
WWSO.US is a new US faith-based coalition and movement of
diverse faith groups from across the country joining together for
action and advocacy to end the silence about gender based
violence.
The coalition works at local, national and global levels through two
parallel tracks of action and advocacy to raise awareness, care for
victims, encourage law enforcement, and change our culture of
tolerance and inaction.

4. The Problem: GBV in the US
• More than 1 in 3 women have reportedly experienced
sexual assault, physical violence or stalking by an
intimate partner. The same is true for 1 in 4 men.
(The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National
Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, 2011.)
• Every 2 minutes, someone in the US is sexually
assaulted. Approximately 2/3 of assaults are
committed by someone known to the victim.
(Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network (RAINN)

5. The Problem: GBV in the US
• Nearly 1 in 5 women reported having been raped or
the target of an attempted rape during their
lifetime.
(The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National
Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, 2011.)
• Sexual assault is one of the most underreported
crimes; with 60% of rapes/sexual assaults going
underreported to the police.
(Bureau of Justice Statistics. Rape and Sexual Assault:
Reporting to Police and Medical Attention. 1992-2000.)

6. ONE IS TOO MANY.
ONE IN THREE IS
UNSPEAKABLE.
Our Mantra

7. Tearfund Meeting

8. Why IMA?
Adventist Development and Relief American Baptist Churches –
International Ministries
Mennonite Central Committee Church World Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Week of Compassion
Church of the Brethren Presbyterian Church (USA) United Church of Christ
Episcopal Relief & Development Lutheran World Relief
Global Ministries of the
The United Methodist Church

9. Why IMA?

10. IMA Member Response
Adventists campaign UCC Congregational Survey
MCC abuse
microsite
Brethren Global
Women’s Project
How can we unite and build on these existing efforts?

11. Combating GBV
• Raising awareness
• Challenging
• Changing
The faith community can and MUST engage
more actively in these activities!

12. ACTION: Equip and mobilize faith communities
and their leaders to change the culture of
silence around SGBV
• Local
• National
• Global

13. ADVOCACY: Bringing together the unified voice of the
many to protect those that need it
• Local
• National
• Global

14. Tools and Accomplishments
• Developed the One In
Three Sermon Guide
• Established Speak Out
Sunday (or Speak Out
Sabbath)
– November 24, 2013

15. Tools and Accomplishments
• Promoting the “Pledge
Against Violence”
• WWSO.US website, Twitter
and Facebook pages

16. Membership Opportunities
• SPEAK OUT.
• Share your stories.
• Spread the word.
• Collaborate and learn.
• Lend a hand.
• Advocate.
• Act globally.
• Participate.

17. WILL YOU JOIN US?
Committed Members and Commitments in Principle to date
• American Baptist Churches USA
• Church of the Brethren
• Disciples of Christ
• Episcopal Relief & Development
• Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
• IMA World Health
• Mennonite Central Committee
• United Church of Christ
• UMCOR