Mothers’ Unions around the world will be joining together on Saturday, November 27 to highlight the fact that one in three women will experience domestic or sexual abuse in their lives.
This includes the Mothers’ Union in the Diocese of Leeds, who will at a special prayer vigil hosted by Wakefield Cathedral with the Rt Revd Tony Robinson, Bishop of Wakefield, from 12:30pm.
This service will be followed at 13:00 with three-minutes of silence, taking place on the South Steps outside the cathedral, focusing on the fact that one in three women will be impacted by some form of violence in their life.
Jean Thurman, President of the Mothers’ Union for the Diocese of Leeds, said: “Mothers’ Union worldwide support the United Nations’ 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence and abuse every year (running from 25 November to 10 December).
“This year it is especially important, with domestic violence being described as ‘the second pandemic’.
“One in three women worldwide have at some time experienced domestic or sexual abuse and our members believe this is unacceptable.”
The Prayer Vigil is open for all to attend, no booking needed, and during the three-minutes of silence Mothers’ Union members will be wearing purple scarves, with every third member wearing this over their eyes or mouth, to highlight what is often seen as being an overlooked issue within society.
Bishop Tony said: “I am pleased to be working with the Mothers’ Union to deliver the forthcoming Prayer Vigil at Wakefield Cathedral, highlighting the need to tackle Violence against Women across society.
“The cathedral is often seen as a sanctuary in the heart of the city, a place where people can take a break from the worries of everyday life and seek refuge, support or simply take time to reflect.
“We are a safe place for people from all walks of life and that’s what a person’s home should be too, but sadly this isn’t always the case, and therefore more needs to be done to raise awareness and tackle this issue.”
Alongside the Vigil, a display titled “Souls of our Shoes” has been developed, showcasing eighteen pairs of ladies’ shoes and the stories which go with each, giving visitors the chance to ‘walk in their footsteps’.
Wakefield Cathedral are one of sixteen cathedrals across the UK hosting a service for the Global Day of Action.
The Wakefield Soroptimists and Wakefield Well Women’s Centre have also joined in supporting the actions, with all three organisations sharing displays and support material located within the cathedral.
To find out more about the ‘No More One in Three” campaign please visit www.mothersunion.org.