SU launches campaign against Gender-Based Violence
With the aim to amplify calls for gender justice, the Silliman University Divinity School (SUDS), Religion and Peace Studies Department, and Campus Chaplaincy Office launched a local adaptation of “Thursdays in Black” in a liturgical service held March 17, 2022 at the Labyrinth.
With the tagline “Towards a world without rape and violence,” Thursdays in Black’s launch in SU comes as a response to the campaign of the World Council of Churches for the end of gender-based violence.
The liturgical launch was participated by SUDS faculty members namely: Rev. Dr. Jeaneth Harris-Faller (Dean); Dr. Karl Villarmea, Rev. Josuah M. De Rosas; some representatives from the SU Church, Rev. Wella Hoyle-De Rosas (Minister for Student and Campus Chaplaincy) and Acting Senior Pastor, Rev. Leny Jovita with spouse, Rev. Alvin Jovita, and church elder, Asst. Prof. Alana Leilani Cabrera-Narciso. Present, as well, during the event was Dr. Joan May Cordova of the University’s newly established Human Security Institute of the Salonga Center for Law and Development. Meanwhile, SUDS Centennial Project Staff, Klein F. Emperado crafted the liturgy for the launch.
How to Participate in the #ThursdaysinBlack Campaign
The campaign also invites the Silliman community to wear black on Thursdays as a sign of solidarity and resistance to the ongoing culture of violence and hate pervading the world today against people of various sex, color, and creed. Since this is also an online worldwide movement, those who would like to participate may use the hashtag #ThursdaysinBlack and the standard caption “Towards a world without rape and violence” whenever posting a photo of a person or a group wearing black through any social media account.
Launched in time for the celebration of Women’s Month, this campaign aims to create a difference by advocating for a just and safe community for women, girls, youth, children and people of all sexualities, orientations, genders, identities, and expressions.
(Report by Klein Fausto Emperado, SUDS Centennial 2021 Special Project Staff)
