16 - DAY PRAYER CAMPAIGN
for the
ELIMINATION of ALL FORMS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

November 25 - 10 December

from the
Women and Gender Commission of the Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines,
and the Institute of Formation and Religious Studies Student Body

(Issued November 2003)

Here we offer you the prayers and intentions for each day of the 16 Days.

Opening Prayer:
O God of Life,
You call us to respond with greater commitment to the needs of women
for their development, rights, defense, upliftment and freedom.
We are asked to define new ministries,
to make new roads in our apostolic strategies
to respond to new situations and new questions of the poor and of women.

But sometimes, just sometimes we lack the drive to take the risk.
Sometimes, just sometimes we need to be reminded again of our lukewarm response.
We forget sometimes to take upon ourselves the cause of women
in our everyday encounters with life.

And yet we believe in the united efforts of women and men,
We believe that the power to create and re-create is in our hands.
We remember and pray for each and every survivor/victim of gender violence.

PLEASE LIGHT A CANDLE for every petition. For.

Nov. 25: Women victims of domestic violence, battered wives, marital rape

Nov. 26: Victims/survivors of rape, incest, sexually abused/harassed

Nov. 27: Female infanticide and selective abortions, female genital mutilation

Nov. 28: Maltreated and sexually abused children

Nov. 29: Victims/survivors of sex trafficking and prostitution

Nov. 30: Women victims of unfair labor practice (e.g. contractualization, etc.)

Dec. 1: Victims/survivors of AIDS

Dec. 2: Victims of war/militarism

Dec. 3: Victims of media violence

Dec. 4: Women migrant workers

Dec. 5: Women victims of sexual abuses in the church

Dec. 6: Women victims of violence/injustices from the rural areas

Dec. 7: Women from the cultural minorities who suffer violence and injustice

Dec. 8: Women/children suffer from acute poverty and displacement

Dec. 9: For all victims of gender violence particularly violence against homosexuals
(lesbians and gays)
Dec. 10: Women in death row and all those detained and victims of Human Rights
Violations (HRV)

Final Prayer:
O God, unite us with your grace and wisdom.
Shower your blessings upon us as we look forward to the age of peace,
when violence is banished,
both women and men are able to love and to be loved,
and the work and wealth of our world is justly shared.
We look forward to the future in faith and hope.
May it come soon. Amen.