Global Petition Seeks 1 Million Signatures to End Violence Against Women and Girls

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

SILVER SPRING, Md. —In a bold effort to end all forms of violence against women and girls around the world, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is co-sponsoring a petition that seeks 1 million signatures from 200 countries and territories, as part of a global initiative launched recently called enditnow™, whose main goal is to -

Stop oppressive practices aimed at the female gender.

To sign the petition online, click here.

“This petition is an important first step in this campaign because it shows that people from around the world are taking a stand to say that violence against women is no longer acceptable in any of its forms,” said Hearly Mayr, director for Public Awareness at ADRA International, and a petition organizer.

The petition has found growing support internationally. Hundreds of people from more than 70 countries have already signed the written and online petition in the initial days of the enditnow™ campaign.

Signatures will be presented to the United Nations to draw attention to the issue, advocate for the creation of new policies to protect women and girls, and publicly declare the efforts of the Seventh-day Adventist Church to end violent practices against women and girls.

Enditnow™, sponsored by ADRA and the Women’s Ministries Department of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, was launched October 13. More than 15 million Adventist church members from around the world are encouraged to join this growing movement in order to create change within their own communities and mobilize their peers to raise awareness.

To download a printed copy of the petition and other related materials and resources, please go to the Resources section.

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This article has been adapted from the ADRA website - www.adra.org.au

For more information, contact:
John Torres, Senior Public Relations Manager
301.680.6357 (office)
301.680.6370 (fax)
John.Torres@adra.org

Follow ADRA on Twitter and Facebook to get the latest information as it happens.

ADRA is a non-governmental organization present in 125 countries providing sustainable community development and disaster relief without regard to political or religious association, age, gender, race or ethnicity.

For more information about ADRA, visit www.adra.org.

Author: Nadia McGill

"The campaign has helped to sensitize people to understand their rights, there are laws to protect those rights, and the need to report any abuses of those rights."
- Andiyesa Mhango

“The effects of FGM on the health of a young girl are serious and long lasting. To effectively eliminate this practice, we must enlist the child, the support of her family, and her community as a whole.”
- Martha Momanyi

”This new campaign asks each of us to both speak and act, calling us to stand together to save lives.”
- Charles Sandefur

“We are protecting the futures of our daughters, our granddaughters, nieces, mothers, sisters friends and neighbors. Every woman has the right to security and love.”
- Jacqueline, Puerto Rico

“All too often, people look the other way, by choosing to ignore what you see, you are adding to the violence. I will not stay silent. I want to make a difference.”
- Lindsey

”There are no incurable attitudes. As with any disease, the healing process needs to begin and address the whole of the person. I signed because I want to be a part of the cure.”
- Ina, Poland

“This petition is an important first step...it shows that people from around the world are taking a stand to say that violence against women is no longer acceptable.
- Hearly Mayr

“Violence against women and girls is an offense to all of us, affecting the development of our society as a whole.
- Charles Sandefur

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