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![[Vday]](logo.jpg){kind=logo}
An event which has recently taken place is VDay. This is a special day when The Vagina Monologues are performed, in addition several events are held to raise money for, and the awareness of, the violence that takes place against women and girls across the globe. Some Christian groups are opposed to this campaign despite the fact that the fight against violence seems to be a reasonable cause without any obvious conflicts with Christianity.
VDay is marked on the fourteenth of February, Valentines Day, as the V stands for Victory, Valentine and Vagina. This day aims to raise awareness of the violence that occurs on our doorstep, as well as the violence which is happening on the other side of the world, with the ultimate aim of putting an end to the violence. There are numerous forms of violence, including: rape, date rape, rape as a war crime, sexual harassment, battery, stalking, female genital mutilation, honour killing, female infanticide, acid attacks, dowry deaths, incest and sexual slavery.
Violence against women and girls is a serious issue. One in five women have been subject to physical or sexual violence at the hands of a man, while one in three women will experience violence in their lifetime. This violence can occur prior to birth, during infancy, while the female is an adolescent or any time during adulthood including old age.
VDay was started by an international organisation named VDay, who use the money raised to fund several programs that reduce violence. The Afghan Women’s Summit, The Stop Rape Contest and the Indian Country Project are just some of the beneficiaries of the money raised. The Organisation was set up five years ago and has raised a total of fourteen million dollars to date.
Some Christians are against this campaign as they seem to have the preconception that it’s a feminist campaign run by bra burning extremists. They may have some evidence in support of this as it is likely that some of the women involved are quite extreme.
However, the campaign is essentially aiming to do ‘good’ and the money raised is being put to ‘good’ use. At least what it is being used for is better than spending it on so-called modern art (feel free to disagree with my opinion of modern art), or using the money for several other things that it could be used for.
Why should Christians, who are essentially peace loving people, be opposed to campaigns reducing violence? The Bible suggests that God defends those who are attacked, as it says in Psalm 35:1-2 “Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me, fight against those who fight against me.” This suggests that God protects those innocent people who are unfortunate enough to be preyed upon.
Further evidence from the Bible that violence is ‘wrong’ comes from the Ten Commandments. In Matthew 22:39, Jesus states that the second greatest commandment is to “Love your neighbour as yourself.” Therefore, it can be said that those who commit violence are not loving their neighbour; although it can also be said that those who stand by, letting this violence happen without even attempting to reduce it are not loving their neighbour either. After all as the Parable of the Good Samaritan illustrates by the way the Samaritan deals with the man who has been beaten, even people we don’t know are our neighbours.
Therefore, it can be concluded that the VDay campaign is doing God’s work by helping people; the campaigners don’t normally know who are suffering. The fact that the people suffering are women and that most of the campaigners are women is irrelevant to the issue. The people are not necessarily Christian or religious but they are trying to make the world a better place and they need help to do this.
http://www.who.int/frh-whd/VAW/infopack/English/VAW_infopack.htm
Photo and graphic: www.vday.org
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Last modified: 25th November 2005
![[Beatrice Torome performing The Vagina Monologues]](beatrice.jpg)