We Will Speak Out (WWSO) is a global coalition of Christian-based NGOs, churches and organisations, supported by an alliance of individuals, who together commit themselves to see the end of sexual violence across communities around the world.
The WWSO coalition is committed to empowering women and girls, transforming relationships between women and men, and ensuring that the voices of survivors of sexual violence – women, girls, men and boys – are central to their work.
As a founder member of the We Will Speak Out Coalition BMS World Mission is advocating for change at a structural level through engagement with the Law Society of England and Wales. We are also pleased to be able to contribute to a new level of government awareness of the issue, through the Foreign and Commonwealth Global Summit to “End Sexual Violence in Conflict” and its outcomes.
The issue
Though often prevalent in conflict and humanitarian contexts, sexual violence is common within communities worldwide – but as an issue it remains largely hidden. Women, girls, men and boys are all at risk of sexual violence.
UN statistics find that:
• Today, many women – in some countries as many as one in three – are beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in their lifetimes
• Worldwide, one in five women will become a victim of rape or attempted rape in her lifetime
• On the basis of data* collected from 24,000 women in ten countries, between 55 and 95 per cent of women who have been physically abused by their partners have never contacted NGOs, shelters or the police for help
*UNiTE to End Violence Against Women, 2009
The Church is part of communities worldwide, with a mandate to care and stand with people who are marginalised and vulnerable. Shame and fear often lead to sexual violence being hidden in both churches and the wider community.
Our mission
The coalition partnership works together to harness efforts to prevent and eliminate sexual violence by supporting the church to speak out against sexual violence, show strong and positive leadership and become a ‘safe’ place for people to go to.
As a coalition, we can work together to influence legislation and policies with a united voice. We seek to give a voice to those who are most marginalised and create platforms for their voices to be heard.
