Global Violence Against

Women and Girls:

Confronting Evil (Part 1)

Arbutus Lichti Sider, MS, LMFT

May, 2015
Argentina
“And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly
with your God.” Micah 6:8

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 Mutuality and Partnership
Prevent Domestic Abuse
 Domestic abuse occurs in the privacy of the
home. It is an abuse of power and includes:
 Uncontrolled anger; threats, bullying,
isolation, manipulation, put-downs, hitting,
pushing, shaking, even murder.
 Domestic violence includes psychological,
physical and spiritual abuse.
 “The light of truth casts out darkness.” It
must be exposed—brought into the light.
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 The Global Picture
 Domestic violence
 Female genital mutilation
 Sex-selective abortion
 Infanticide of girl babies
 Rape as a weapon of war
 Honor killings; dowry deaths
 Child marriages
 Exploitation in labor for profit/unsafe conditions
 Sex trafficking
 [One more]
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 KOFI ANNAN: “There is no tool for
development more effective than the
empowerment of women….
No other policy is as likely:
 to raise economic productivity,
 to reduce infant and maternal mortality,
 to improve nutrition and promote health,
 to increase the chances of education for
the next generation,
 to prevent conflict, or achieve reconci-
liation after a conflict has ended.“
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 Lasaunne Document,
Pattaya, Thailand, 2004

“More than half the body of Christ are

women, [yet] they are the most
undervalued and underutilized
resource of the church.”
Is not the Great Commission’s call to go,
make disciples, baptize and teach,
given to the whole church?
(Matt. 28: 19-20)

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 HALF THE SKY:
Turning Oppression into Opportunity
for Women Worldwide
Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn

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 A Bold Challenge

 “In the 19th century, the central moral

challenge was slavery.
 In the 20th century it was the battle
against totalitarianism.
 We believe that in this 21st century the
paramount moral challenge will be the
struggle for gender equality around
the world.” (p. xvii)

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 ...the cruelty of indifference

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 Addis Ababa Fistula
Hospital

 Founded by Catherine and Reg Hamlon

 Book: Hospital by the River

 Film: A Walk to Beautiful

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 Violence Against
Women and Girls
 Female genital mutilation
 Sex-selective abortion
 Orphanages full of abandoned girls
 Sex trafficking
 Rape as a weapon of war
 Honor killings; dowry deaths
 Child marriages
 Domestic violence
 Exploitation in labor for profit/unsafe conditions
 Maternal mortality, the cruelty of indifference

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 Christians for
Biblical Equality
www.cbeinternational.org

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 Christians for Biblical
Equality…
 Is an organization of Christian men and
women who believe that the Bible,
properly interpreted, teaches the
fundamental equality of believers of all
ethnic groups, all economic classes, and
all age groups, based on the teachings
of Scripture as reflected in Galatians
3:28:

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 Galatians 3:26-29

 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of

God through faith, for all of you who
were baptized into Christ have clothed
yourselves with Christ. There is neither
Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor
free, neither male nor female, for you
are all one in Christ Jesus. If you
belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s
seed, and heirs according to the promise
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 Patriarchal Culture

 A patriarchal culture is a form of

social organization in which the
father or eldest male is recognized
as head of the family or tribe.
Their descendants are traced
through the male lineage.

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 Galatians 3:26-29

 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of

God through faith, for all of you who
were baptized into Christ have clothed
yourselves with Christ. There is neither
Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor
free, neither male nor female, for you
are all one in Christ Jesus. If you
belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s
seed, and heirs according to the promise
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 The Radical Jesus Changed
Things for Women
 Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan
woman made her the first evangelist.
 The woman with hemorrhage is healed
and her shame removed.
 Jesus forgives the woman washing his
feet and rebukes his host.
 The crippled woman is healed and
honored as a daughter of Abraham….

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