Latest News from the Diocese of Gloucester
Bishop of Gloucester takes the challenge to #BeBoldForChange
Wednesday 1 February
The Bishop of Gloucester, the Right Revd Rachel Treweek will be inspiring and challenging MPs and guests at an event in the House of Lords on Tuesday 7 March to mark International Women’s Day.
Bishop Rachel will be hosting the event in partnership with Christian Aid and Restored to promote gender equality.
The aim is to give guests and parliamentarians a deeper insight into faith leaders’ commitment to secure a more gender inclusive world and to inspire each person to engage actively with this issue. The event will showcase powerful examples of people and organisations working to drive change for women.
Bishop Rachel said, “My hope is that by bringing people together for conversation we will each be challenged to take action in ways that will help transform the lives of women around the world. For me as a follower of Jesus Christ, my motivation to do this is to see every woman flourish and become the person that God has created them to be.”
Speakers will include:
- Christian Aid
- Restored, a charity working to end violence against women
- Muzoon Almellehan, an 18-year old Syrian refugee working with the Malala Fund and campaigning for girls’ education
- The Nelson Trust, a Gloucestershire-based organisation that supports disadvantaged women with complex, multiple needs
- Side by Side, a global movement of people of faith who want to see gender justice become a reality
- The Rt Hon Lord Bates, Minister of State for the Department for International Development (DFID), will reflect on DFID’s work with faith leaders in addressing gender-based violence and supporting gender equality.
Christian Aid’s Chief Executive Loretta Minghella said, “Christian Aid is delighted to partner with Bishop Rachel and with Restored, as together we seek to mobilise the faith community to challenge and change the discriminatory beliefs that lie at the root of gender inequality. Our voices have the power to transform people’s experience of gender – especially for women and girls living in poverty – and to ensure they are shaped not by oppression, but by justice, dignity and hope.”
Mandy Marshall, Co-Director of Restored said, “30% of women worldwide experience violence from their partner. Faith based organisations have great reach and influence at both national and local level in millions of communities across the globe. With the right support, we believe they have the potential to challenge the injustice of gender inequality and hasten the end of violence against women.”
The event is being held on Tuesday 7 March in the House of Lords. International Women’s Day is on Wednesday 8 March #BeBoldForChange.
Interviews are available and photographs will also be available after the event. For more information please contact Lucy Taylor, Head of Communications, 01452 835515, 07811 174125 ltaylor@glosdioc.org.uk
Ends
For more information contact:
Lucy Taylor, Head of Communications, 01452 835515, 07811 174125, ltaylor@glosdioc.org.uk
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