ACN Launching New Report
On Red Wednesday of this year, 24th November, ACN is launching a new report called Hear Her Cries. The report looks into the issue of the kidnapping, forced conversion and sexual victimisation of Christian women and girls around the world.
By ACN Staff
Red Wednesday. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need_
Every year, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) during the Week of Witness and Red Wednesday, invites the faithful across Ireland to join us in witness to the faithfulness of the martyrs of today and all Christians who suffer and are persecuted for their faith in Christ. This year, the Week of Witness is occurring from 22nd until 26th November, with Red Wednesday falling on 24th November.
On Red Wednesday this year, ACN is launching a report as part of our witness to Christian persecution. The report is titled “Hear Her Cries” and examines one of the most disturbing aspects of Christian persecution in the world today. That is the kidnapping, forced conversion and sexual victimisation of Christian women and girls around the world.
We at ACN hear about these cases week after week. There is a growing awareness amongst Church leaders and organisations like ACN that this issue is only growing in terms of magnitude and frequency. This problem is pronounced in countries that generally have a poor record on human rights and religious freedom, such as Pakistan and also in countries where there are ongoing conflicts, such as Iraq and Syria. This background context often gives the “cover” for the targeting of Christian women and girls.
In his 2019 independent review for the UK Foreign Secretary of Foreign and Commonwealth Office Support for Persecuted Christians, the Anglican Bishop of Truro, the Rt Revd Philip Mounstephen, specifically raised the issue of the kidnapping and sexual victimisation of Christian women and girls in contexts where Christians are a religious minority. Bishop Mounstephen also stated that more research is required into this specific area to try to better understand the problem and to help formulate an appropriate action in response. ACN’s new report is envisioned as answering this proposal in the Truro review for more research into this issue.
The report will be launching on Red Wednesday, 24th November. Sign up to our newsletter below to get news of when the report is launched and how you can access it. Please join us in prayer for our persecuted Christian brothers and sisters around the world.