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16 Days: time for lament, time for action

Posted by Jenni James on 25 November 2024

As the 16 days of activism begins, I want to consider two elements of domestic abuse advocacy: lament and action. 

It can be easy to focus on one over the other. Sometimes we can find ourselves so overwhelmed by the scale of violence against women and girls that we struggle to see how we can make a difference. In other moments, particularly focussed times of campaigning like this, we can get so swept up in the action that we don’t give ourselves the space to really consider the weight of the issue.

The truth is, both lament and action are vital parts of our response to violence against women and girls. Our hearts and minds need time to express the pain that comes with seeing the suffering of others, or maybe the suffering that we’ve experienced ourselves. As God’s people, we’re told to ‘mourn with those who mourn’ (Romans 12:15); activism without empathy will ultimately ring hollow. At the same time, we need to let our grief move us into action, so that we can make a difference for those who are facing injustice. 

So, as we move through the 16 days of activism, I want to encourage you to take time for lament and to take action. Maybe, like me, you’ll have a tendency for one over the other. Perhaps today, right now even, you could spend some time in the space that you feel least comfortable: if you’re an action taker, why not take ten minutes to reflect and pray about the realities of gender based violence – Bible passages like Psalm 6, Psalm 10 and Psalm 16 give helpful words if you’re not sure what to say. 

If it’s taking action that feels more outside of your comfort zone, you could start small – share an awareness raising post on social media, or download a Red Chair project poster and put it up in your window. You could make a donation to our Christmas appeal, to help survivors find support. Actions that might seem insignificant can make a huge difference! 

We’d love to see what you get up to throughout the 16 days – do send us photos or updates via email, or tag us on social media. Together, we can spur each other on through lament and into action, to change the story for women and girls.