Update: 2:30PM FOLLOWING the consensus decision by members of the Fiji Council of Churches (FCC) at its meeting earlier in September to support the 16 Days of Activism campaign, a collective wide effort has now begun for this and the first Break the Silence Sunday.

On Break the Silence Sunday, FCC members will focus their attention on gender-based violence and child abuse through liturgy, and to recommit to being violence-free communities and advocates.

This FCC campaign will also include, also for the first time, a commercial for television and cinema that features church leaders speaking out against gender-based-violence and violence against children.

“It is important that we not only address the sin of gender-based violence and child abuse  within our church community, but as faith leaders we speak with one voice in condemning it and calling for our communities and homes to be safe,” said FCC president Reverend Dr Tevita Banivanua.

The 16 days run from November 25 – the UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women to December 10 – International Human Rights Day.

It is a global campaign to focus efforts towards working to eliminate violence against women in our families, our communities and our world.