Fwd: 📣#RedWednesday: An urgent appeal to the UN!

[June Herridge]

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From: Aid to the Church in Need <a...@acnuk.org>
Date: 26 November 2021 at 19:08:46 GMT
To: June Herridge <junelau...@gmail.com>
Subject: 📣#RedWednesday: An urgent appeal to the UN!
Reply-To: Aid to the Church in Need <a...@acnuk.org>

 Forced conversions and forced marriages to be added to the list of crimes committed against women...

Father Michael Nazir-Ali speaking on #RedWednesday in Westminster Cathedral Hall (© Weenson OO/PICTURE-U.NET) An urgent appeal to the UN to add forced conversions and forced marriages to the list of crimes committed against women has been made by Father Michael Nazir-Ali at an event held to mark #RedWednesday. Father Nazir-Ali, former Anglican Bishop of Rochester and now a Catholic priest, made his comments at London’s Westminster Cathedral Hall on sexual violence and persecution of women and girls from Christian and other faith minorities.  Speaking on Wednesday (24th November) at London’s Westminster Cathedral Hall, alongside other experts, and victims of forced conversion, he said: “First of all, there should be pressure on the UN to add forced conversion and forced marriage to the UN’s list of crimes of  violence against women. This should be possible to do." The priest, a former bishop in Pakistan, where forced conversions are common, added: “It would be a worthy addition to that list, some of the other additions are not as worthy as this one." The event marked the launch of ACN’s report ‘Hear Her Cries: The kidnapping, forced conversion and sexual victimisation of Christian women and girls’ with witness testimonies and other experts speaking. Professor Michele Clark, a human rights advocate who has researched the plight of Coptic Christian women in Egypt, and retired professor of international affairs at George Washington University, USA, said forced conversions were “strategic”. She said: “We are talking about strategic and targeted efforts to erode minority Christian communities by attacking women. This is a war of attrition against Christians using women." Alongside the report, ACN launched a petition calling on the UN and the UK government to take more effective steps to tackle the epidemic of sexual violence against Christian women, girls and those of other religious minorities. To sign ACN’s #RedWednesday petition to the UK government and the UN, and order a copy of 'Hear Her Cries', click here Read more here HELP US SUPPORT THOSE IN NEED Young student singers in ‘See Red’ glasses gather ahead of Mass at Westminster Cathedral for #RedWednesday (© Weenson OO/PICTURE-U.NET) #RedWednesday 2021 A HUGE Thank You to everyone around the country who attended our #RedWednesday events or took part in any way. We have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support – especially at the time when COVID is still impacting parish life. A gallery of highlights will be coming soon. To get maximum impact for our petition to the UK government and the UN – please help us by sharing the link with your networks. Let’s make our voices count to stop forced marriage, forced conversion and sexual violence against Christians and minority faith women. Please sign the petition here.   ACN Events  #RedWednesday Highlights A packed #RedWednesday schedule started in the Houses of Parliament where ACN (UK) National Director, Neville Kryke-Smith presented video testimony from Neha, a victim aged 13 of forced marriage and conversion. Both in parliament and later at the Zoom launch of our ‘Hear Her Cries' report,  Fiona Bruce, the PM’s religious freedom envoy, who will be presenting our petition to the government, said that, of all the reports she has read, "This report moved me more than any other. When I finished I sat and cried – as a woman and for these brave women." The evening concluded with events in London and Scotland.  We are offering our wonderful ACN benefactors the first opportunity to watch our London Highlights video and strong and compelling content from our London and Scotland #RedWednesday Talks, before distributing more widely next week. Click here to watch – and please share.   ACN Shop A Catholic Prayer Book Drawing from a rich treasury of prayer from the Old Testament, saints and down to more recent times, this collection will help those seeking a fuller prayer life. Contains a variety of prayers to accompany us through the day, with well-known Catholic devotions, suited to both private and shared settings. Click here to buy it. Click here for our 2021 Christmas Shop LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Instagram YouTube Copyright © 2021 Aid to the Church in Need, All rights reserved. You were subscribed to the newsletter from Aid to the Church in Need Our mailing address is: Aid to the Church in Need 12-14 Benhill Avenue Sutton, Sutton SM1 4DA United Kingdom Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.