Many Cooperation Circles are devoted to projects for women, which focus on issues like leadership, domestic violence prevention and counseling, job and skills training, gender equality, education, and preventing female infanticide.
“URI is committed to the equitable participation of women and men in all aspects of our organization.” - URI Principle 8
On November 24, 2024, United Religions Initiative Australia, the South Australian CC Multifaith Association and Religions for Peace Australia collaborated to present a powerful online Interfaith Prayer Vigil that focused directly on preventing domestic/communal violence. Thirty-five interfaith leaders from across Australia and New Zealand participated.
The vigil featured prayers and reflections from Baha’i, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, and Sikh faith leaders, inspiring talks on community action to protect and uplift, and open dialogue for ideas and shared commitments about how to provide domestic safety to women children and families at risk.
Lachlan Villa Ganas, one of the organizers, was moved to focus on how religions could actively get involved in preventing violence when he became aware of the dramatic rise in violence against women.
“The shocking statistics of women from all works of life dying at the hands of their spouses, partners, or men in general here in Australia and in New Zealand spurred me on to organize the event.”
End the Silence: Interfaith Prayers for Violence Prevention Within the Home and Community
