31% of women in the United States say they have experienced physical abuse by a husband or male significant other.1There is an average of 20,000 reports of domestic violence to the police in Puerto Rico every year—and those are only the ones that are reported.2
An estimated 5% of women on college campuses report experiencing a completed or attempted rape in a given year; 12% of completed rapes and 35% of attempted rapes occur while on a date.3
The World Health Organization on its website estimates that 100-140 million women and girls globally are living with the effects of female genital cutting, a cultural practice in several countries and in some immigrant communities.
“Women bear specific burdens in crisis zones….Prostitution and the trafficking of girls and women increases…Wartime rape is endemic and often systematic.”4 Women in war zones are at high risk for victimization of violence and exploitation.
From 2007 to 2010, “Break the Chains: Slavery in the 21st Century” raised over $480,000 for ministries engaged in work with survivors of trafficking, preventative outreach, or advocacy. Praise God!
American Baptist Women’s Ministries continued its work in 2010 until the present to “Break the Chains and Stop the Pain,” addressing issues of oppression of women and girls worldwide. We have focused on violence and abuse towards women and girls, and grants have been awarded to American Baptist-related organizations and ministries addressing violence against women/girls.
Information about those ministries are posted on this website--you'll become familiar with what the ministries are doing and what they plan to achieve, with God's help.
Fundraising for Break the Chains ends on April 30, 2013. Accumulated donations will be awarded to 2013 grantees. Donations received after April 30, 2013 for Break the Chains will be used for mission initiatives in the U.S. and around the world that focus on bringing healing and hope to women and girls.
Stay tuned!
Administrative expenses (accounting functions, postage, meetings, staff time) are covered by 20% of the collected funds.
Grants in 2012 were given to six new American Baptist-related ministries working to end violence against women and girls:
NightLight (Bangkok, Thailand)--$1,000 for after care and/or repatriation for victims of domestic violence, sexual exploitation, and trafficking
European Baptist Federation--$1,000 for its anti-trafficking network conference coordinator
Anti-Trafficking Outreach and Education (Bulgaria)--$3,712.06 for street outreach, translation and printing of materials, and training in anti-trafficking and human slavery issues.
Milwaukee Christian Center (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)--$2,500 to its new “GIRLS (Girls in Real Life Situations)” program to help Latina girls living on Milwaukee’s low-income south side develop leadership skills and self-confidence with the goal to prevent dating violence.
Cameron Christian Ministries (Rochester, New York)--$2,000 to its new “Charting a New Employment Path for Women” program to develop a food service training course and certification for women who are currently receiving welfare benefits, to move them into a stable employment situation.
Safe Spirit Ministries (ABC of New Jersey)—$1,212.06 to the new “Building Safe Spaces” project to help churches across ABC of New Jersey to become safe spaces for at-risk women and girls.
2013 Break the Chains Grants
AB Women’s Ministries is seeking applications for grants in 2013 from individuals or organizations that seek to end violence against women and girls. The deadline for 2013 applications is April 30, 2013. This will be the last grant cycle for Break the Chains grants.
