IMA World Health and Lutheran World Relief to host event at UN’s 63rd Commission on the Status of Women
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 7, 2019—IMA World Health and Lutheran World Relief will host a March 14 parallel event at the United Nations’ 63rd Commission on the Status of Women that will explore the role of the Church in preventing and responding to sexual and domestic violence—a major threat to the safety and equality of women around the world.
The event, “Can the Church be viewed as part of a social protection system?” will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. in the Aqua Room at 4 W. 43rd St., New York. Admission is free.
The discussion will be informed by the lessons learned from IMA World Health’s successful partnerships with local churches and faith-based organizations to address sexual and gender-based violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Panelists will also discuss the implications of the 2018 Broken Silence 2.0 report —developed by IMA and Sojourners on behalf of the We Will Speak Out U.S. coalition, — which describes how U.S. pastors’ attitudes to sexual and domestic violence are changing in the #metoo era.
Panelists include:
- Dr. Jo Lusi, Co-founder, HEAL Africa, an orthopedic surgeon in rural Congo who is dedicated to training young doctors in his country to work in rural mission hospitals.
- Kirsten Laursen Muth, Special Advisor for International Programs, Episcopal Relief & Development, who created and leads her agency’s strategy to engage men and women faith leaders at institutional and community levels to promote gender justice and end violence against women, girls and children.
- Rev. Dr. Monica Coleman, a theologian who has written and spoken widely on religion and sexuality, religious pluralism, churches & social media, mental health, and sexual and domestic violence.
- Jenna Barnett, (Panel Moderator), the Women and Girls Campaign Coordinator for Sojourners.