- 31% of women in the United States say they have experienced physical abuse by a husband or male significant other.1 There 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 is continuing its work to “Break the Chains and Stop the Pain,” addressing issues of oppression of women and girls worldwide. In 2011-14, the focus is on violence and abuse towards women and girls.
Funds donated to "Break the Chains and Stop the Pain" in 2011 will be granted to American Baptist-related organizations and ministries addressing violence against women/girls. Check out the other pages on this website for more information.
The funds received have been directed to ministries that address the sexual exploitation of women and children: 50% for ministries in the U.S. & Puerto Rico, and 50% for ministries that are international.
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.
Administrative expenses (accounting functions, postage, meetings, staff time) are covered by 20% of the collected funds.
[1] Joni Seager, editor, The Penguin Atlas of Women in the World, Fourth Edition (New York: Penguin, 2009) , p. 28.
[2]http://www.conversationsforabetterworld.com/2010/01/puerto-rico-voices-against-violence/, accessed January 31, 2011.
[3] National Center for Victims of Crime Campus Dating Violence fact sheet, www.ncvc.org.
[4] Seager, The Penguin Atlas of Women in the World, p. 100.
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