Feature story
A communique adopted at the closing session of the consultation outlined guidelines and actionable steps to promote gender justice in diverse contexts.
In the communique, participants urged women across communities to empower themselves and others by cultivating awareness of gender-based violence, advocating for survivors, and collaborating with organizations to address the root causes of violence and forced migration.
The communique also emphasizes the importance of involving men in gender justice dialogues to dismantle harmful patriarchal structures.
The role of churches in combating gender-based violence was highlighted, with participants urging faith communities to raise awareness, challenge patriarchal perspectives, and support survivors with comprehensive care.
Churches were encouraged to promote gender justice through theological education, policy development, and active participation in decision-making processes to ensure women's voices are heard at all levels.
Emphasis was placed on the crucial need for collective commitment from all sectors of society, particularly faith-based communities, to combat gender-based violence and provide support for those affected by forced migration.
The three-day consultation, which was attended by 34 women from across Asia, culminated in a closing worship where participants affirmed their shared commitment to fostering a more equitable and gender-just society, pledging to work together towards lasting change and the empowerment of women.
Highlights from speakers
"If violence against women is a disease, we are now declared a pandemic,” stated Yusmiati Vistamika Wangka of the Christian Action Centre for Migrant Domestic Workers in Hong Kong.
Wangka highlighted the pervasive nature of gender-based violence affecting women migrant workers. "Today, the face of human migration is female, the face of poverty is female, the face of human trafficking is female, the face of the worldwide church is also increasingly female," she noted, underscoring her argument about the growing feminization of migration.
Through case studies, she illustrated the gendered aspects of migration, such as the lack of property rights for women and the unique struggles faced by single mothers who migrate for work. She emphasized, "The vast majority of women migrate out of necessity, not out of choice.”
Rev. Wella Hoyle de Rosas from Silliman University Divinity School in the Philippines delivered a thematic address titled “Addressing Gender-Based Violence and Forced Migration of Women: Towards Gender Justice.”
“A vision of gender justice and equality is not just a theological ideal but a mandate, as a gender-just community envisions a society where equality, respect, and mutual flourishing transcend the boundaries of gender,” she said.
Rev. Ira Imelda of Gereja Kristen Pasundan in Indonesia explored evolving patterns of gender-based violence in Asia in her presentation, “Gender-Based Violence in Asia: Emerging Trends and Strategic Approaches in Addressing the Issues.”
“For Indigenous women, the loss of land is not just an economic issue; it is an attack on their dignity and way of life,” she said, also stressing the importance of reminding congregations that “women have the power to empower women.”
Nelun Chrisanthi Gunasekara, from Sri Lanka, led a session on “Achieving Gender Equality: The Rights and Empowerment of Women and Girls.”
“Empowering women should take into consideration their realities and contexts, and be meaningful rather than driven by actions that may inadvertently disempower them,” she said. “Meaningful change does not solely occur at the national level; it begins at home, where small, intentional actions can pave the way toward achieving gender equality.”
Dr Young Mi Cho of the Presbyterian Church of Korea led a session on “Women and Men Partnership in Combating Gender-Based Violence: A Collaborative Approach” and emphasized the importance of involving men in the gender equality movement.
“Analyzing and strengthening policy and legal frameworks based on evidence of what works and what does not is key to the success of gender equality initiatives,” Cho noted. “We need to take steps to ensure that women and men have equal rights, opportunities and responsibilities in all spheres of society.”
Call to address root causes
On the 25th anniversary of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) renewed its urgent call to confront the enduring scourge of violence against women and girls.
In a statement released on 25 November, CCA general secretary Dr Mathews George Chunakara highlighted that, while decades of advocacy have illuminated the path toward gender equality, the persistent reality of gender-based violence, particularly across Asia, serves as a stark reminder of the work still to be done.
“The CCA joins the international community in calling for cohesive and strategic approaches to address the root causes of violence against women, including deeply ingrained gender inequalities, harmful cultural norms, limited access to justice, and socio-economic inequalities,” he said. “The CCA urges its member churches and councils to amplify efforts to address violence against women and girls through advocacy, public statements, and concrete actions that promote women's safety, dignity, and empowerment, which includes supporting survivors of violence, engaging in educational initiatives to change harmful attitudes, and working with other key actors to take meaningful action and work towards lasting transformation.”