March 22, 2011

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams March 22 welcomed senior church leaders and international development agencies at Lambeth Palace, where they pledged that the church will play a part in ending sexual violence.

They also publicized the release of "Silent No More," a report by Tearfund, a United Kingdom-based Christian relief and development agency.

"It is of the first importance that churches and all communities of faith continue to hold before the world's eyes the absolute priority for justice and dignity for all," Williams said, according to a Tearfund press release. "We need to equip people to become agents of change and agents of hope. I hope this is the beginning of the church being what it ought to be and should be."

He was joined by Michel Sidibé, executive director of UNAIDS, who said "people forced into sex are automatically denied the means to protect themselves against HIV. Women and girls are most affected and are most vulnerable to HIV. UNAIDS will work closely with faith based organizations to ensure the dignity and protection of women and girls."

Anglican Church of the Congo Archbishop Henri Isingoma, his wife Madame Mugisa and Burundi Archbishop Bernard Ntahoturi were also present.

Lyn Lusi, co-founder of HEAL Africa, a Tearfund partner, said during the event that "attitudes to women need to change if a woman's lot is to get better … It's about partnership as God intended, and understanding one another's roles. The church needs to be a model for this partnership."

The "Silent No More" report highlights what the release called the largely untapped potential of the church in preventing and reducing the impact of sexual violence. The report says that while many churches have deepened the impact of sexual violence through silence, they have the potential to change that message due to their status as a key part of community life.

Episcopal News Service