A Mapping of Faith-based Responses to Violence against Women and Girls in the Asia-Pacific Region Acknowledgements This report was prepared by Jo Kaybryn and Vijaya Nidadavolu, consultants to the Asia- Pacific Women, Faith and Development Alliance (AP-WFDA) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The consultants would like to express their appreciation for the time and effort that participating faith-based organizations put into ensuring the success of this initiative. Thanks must also be given to Michelle Lokot (World Vision Australia) who led the process on behalf of the AP-WFDA, and Anne Harmer and Kiran Bhatia (UNFPA) for their advice and support. Acknowledgement should also be made of the key role played by the members of the Steering Committee of the Asia-Pacific Women Faith and Development Alliance, who provided valuable input and feedback throughout the mapping process. The Steering Committee members included Mary Hawkins, Chair of the Asia Pacific Women, Faith and Development Alliance and Chair of International Women’s Development Agency, Mary-Faeth Chenery, representing the Global Peace Initiative of Women, Barbara O’Dwyer, representing the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom and Clare Seddon, representing World Vision Australia. The consultants would like to thank the following people for their time and input: Aimee Brammer, Andrie Husein, Arieta Moceica, Bhante Sujato, Carol Davamani, Daw Aye Kywe, Dr. Chintamani Yogi, Dr. Naimatullah Akbari, Ekra Sabur, Esther Pastores, Ethel M Laufanua Suri, Fadhlina Sidek, Filifai’esea Lilo, Jackie Ogega, Jarintorn, Juli Dugdale, Justine McMahon, Karen Smith, Karoline Davis, Keshab Prasad Chaulagain, Kylie Ward, Mandy, Margaret Smith, Mark Roche, Mary Khin, Md. Sorowar Hossain Chowdhury, Melania Pasifika Kirihio, Miss Nilakshi Rajkhowa, Narelle Bowden-Ford, Naw Paw Gaw, Pastor Doroline Laloyer, Radchada Chomjinda (Toy), Robert Choy, Roshani Karmacharya, Ruby Kholifah, Sara Jane Barla, Selvy Thiruchandran, Sr. Ma. Cecilia Perlas, CB, Sr. Mary Adeline C. Abamo SDS, Sr. Nida C. Viovicente OSR, Sultana Begum, Swami Sadyojathah, Tatjana Klein, Rev. Adrian De Visser, Rev. Sereima Lomaloma, Theresa Symons, Tibor, Toshi Sanglir, Ven. Dhammananda, Yen Yoke Wah, Barbara, Zahra Tul Fatima. The views expressed in the report are those of the consultants and, where indicated, of the participating faith-based organizations. They should not be taken to reflect, in whole or in part, those of UNFPA, World Vision Australia, or the Asia-Pacific Women Faith and Development Alliance. 2 Contents Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................................2 Contents .............................................................................................................................................3 List of figures ......................................................................................................................................4 List of tables .......................................................................................................................................5 List of boxes ........................................................................................................................................6 Preface ................................................................................................................................................7 Acronyms ..........................................................................................................................................10 Executive Summary ..........................................................................................................................11 I Mapping faith-based responses to violence against women and girls in the Asia-Pacific region .............................................................................................15 1.1 Background .................................................................................................................15 1.2 Methodology ..............................................................................................................16 1.3 Summary of participating organizations .....................................................................16 II Mapping the Pacific region .................................................................................................18 III Mapping the South Asia region ..........................................................................................31 Iv Mapping the South-East Asia region ..................................................................................48 V Unique strengths of faith-based organizations and religious leaders ................................61 VI Challenges for faith-based organizations in responding to violence ..................................63 VII Progressing faith-based and secular responses to violence against women and girls .......65 VIII Concluding remarks and recommendations .......................................................................69 Appendix 1: Participating organizations ...........................................................................................72 Appendix 2: Additional faith-based organization participating respondents ...................................74 Mapping of Faith-based responses to 3 Violence against women and girls in the Asia-Pacific Region List of figures Figure 1: Faith identities of participating organizations .................................................17 Figure 2: Forms of violence addressed by participating Pacific FBOs .............................22 Figure 3: Settings and spaces where violence takes place, and is addressed by Pacific FBOs ....................................................................23 Figure 4: Primary targets of participating Pacific FBOs ...................................................26 Figure 5: Networks and partners of participating Pacific FBOs ......................................27 Figure 6: Faith identities of participating South Asian FBOs ...........................................35 Figure 7: Forms of violence addressed by participating South Asian FBOs ....................37 Figure 8: Primary targets of participating South Asian FBOs ..........................................40 Figure 9: Public campaigning and advocacy responses of participating South Asian FBOs ...................................................................43 Figure 10: Networks and partners of participating South Asian FBOs ..............................44 Figure 11: Faith identities of participating South-East Asian FBOs ...................................51 Figure 12: Forms of violence addressed by participating South-East Asian FBOs ............53 Figure 13: Settings and spaces where violence takes place, and is addressed by South-East Asian FBOs ..…. ..............................................54 Figure 14: Primary targets of participating South-East Asian FBOs ..................................55 Figure 15: Internal and external factors affecting FBOs ability to address VAWG in the Pacific region .............................................................66 Figure 16: Internal and external factors affecting FBOs ability to address VAWG in the South Asia region .............................................................................................67 Figure 17: Internal and external factors affecting FBOs ability to address VAWG in South East Asia region ……………. ................................................................................68 4 List of tables Table 1: Religions of selected Pacific Island Countries ..................................................................19 Table 2: Responses to VAWG according to the categories of prevention and support (Pacific) ...23 Table 3: Secondary audiences targeted by Pacific FBOs ...............................................................26 Table 4: Intimate partner violence prevalence, selected population-based studies in South Asia ........................................................................................................33 Table 5: Religious affiliation in selected South Asian countries ....................................................34 Table 6: Responses to VAWG according to the categories of prevention and support (South Asia) ........................................................................................................38 Table 7: Secondary audiences targeted by South Asian FBOs .......................................................41 Table 8: Intimate partner violence prevalence, selected population-based studies in South East Asia ................................................................................................49 Table 9: Responses to VAWG according to the categories of prevention and support (South East Asia) .........................................................................................53 Mapping of Faith-based responses to 5 Violence against women and girls in the Asia-Pacific Region List of boxes Box 1: End it Now Campaign, Vanuatu .......................................................................... 25 Box 2: Faith leaders transforming commitment into action in Polynesia ....................... 27 Box 3: Christian ecumenical initiative to end violence ................................................... 29 Box 4: Providing support to women affected by violence in Bangladesh ...................... 39