Unitarian Universalist Policy
Below are complete statements or excerpts of statements passed by the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations General Assembly on the issue of violence against women. For complete versions of these or others, see our social justice statements.Violence Against Women
1993 General Resolution (Read Full Text)
BECAUSE Unitarian Universalists affirm the inherent worth and dignity of every person, and living with dignity includes freedom from physical and emotional violence and the fear of such violence in the home, workplace, church, and community; and
WHEREAS the number of reported cases of harassment and stalking of women is increasing;
WHEREAS the rates of violent crime including sexual assault, rape, battering, and murder are rising and battering is the largest cause of injury to women in the United States and Canada;
WHEREAS violence against women is frequently trivialized, unreported, hidden within the family, or blamed on the victim;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Unitarian Universalist Association shall act and urge its associate members, affiliate organizations, member congregations, and individual Unitarian Universalists to:
- Break the silence by naming and speaking of the violence women experience in their
homes, schools, work places, churches, and communities;
- Examine the nature and consequences of harassment and the ways in which our social,
commercial, and religious institutions sanction harassment of women;
- Develop and implement educational programs for children and adults to empower
individuals and groups to work at eliminating violence against women;
- Develop and implement programs to examine the roles that religious myths and
institutions play in fostering violence or in healing its effects;
- Promote legislation to stop violence against women;
- Promote legislation to require that physicians report suspected cases of abuse;
- Advocate for the introduction of school curricula that promotes gender equality and
respect, and teaches non-violent means of conflict resolution;
- Support the development and implementation of training programs for law enforcers,
health-care providers, business and legal professionals, educators, child-care
workers, and clergy, to increase awareness of the causes and symptoms of
violence against women and effective methods of intervention;
- Promote the creation of safe houses, shelters, counseling centers, and support groups
for victims and their dependents; and
- Promote personal accountability through intervention and treatment programs, including individual and small group counseling for abusers.
Battered Women
1979 Business Resolution (Read Full Text)
WHEREAS, the battering of women in the home is a family and societal problem related to the violation of basic human rights in a significant way both nationally and globally; and
WHEREAS, children internalize and perpetuate models of behavior observed and experienced in the home and in the larger society; and
WHEREAS, long standing religious and cultural myths and practices authenticate and sanction inequitable and oppressive male/female relationships such as male dominance and female submission;
BE IT RESOLVED: That the 1979 General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association urges the Administration, member societies and individuals to:
- Help women learn of and use local assistance available;
- Support the creation of crisis resources such as hotlines, shelters and transition
houses for battered women and their dependents;
- Promote improved civil and legal protection for victims;
- Work toward improved police and court methods of handling violence in the home and toward follow-up treatment services for offenders and victims;
Last updated on Friday, April 18, 2008.
