What faith communities can do

The Scottish Women’s Aid STOP campaign was launched in November 2010, and aims to engage with communities across Scotland to highlight our shared responsibility for ending domestic abuse. It recognises that by standing together we can make it clear that domestic abuse is not acceptable in our communities. An important strand of this campaign is working with faith communities, enabling them to build their capacity to challenge such abuse. This campaign builds on and joins with some of the excellent work already undertaken by faith communities by:

• connecting people
• providing resources
• building activism

Domestic abuse can affect survivors not just physically, but emotionally, psychologically, financially and spiritually. Faith leaders and communities can be a significant resource and a protective factor for those affected. They also have an important role in prevention work – raising awareness and ensuring that the community challenges domestic abuse. Domestic abuse occurs in all communities and across all faiths. As such it is everyone’s issue and faith leaders, organisations and community members can play a vital part in addressing it. Many people of faith are already doing just that. Join us by saying STOP. Show your support by pledging to do one thing to stop domestic abuse here.

See also the 10 things faith groups can do and list of links and resources here.