Anglican leaders have added their voices to the House of Sarah and Fiji Council of Churches' 2025 ecumenical and interfaith campaign to end gender-based violence in Fiji and beyond. 

The campaign aligns with the United Nations' '16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence' that runs between 25 November -10 December yearly, and this year raised the voices of 16 Fiji-based faith leaders in videos that share their own tradition's messages on 'Faith in Action for a World Free from Violence'. 

Anglicans joined leaders from Fiji's Roman Catholic, Coptic Orthodox, Presbyterian, Methodist and other Christian churches alongside Hindu and Muslim community leaders to affirm their own holy writings that call for honour and respect towards women, and identify violence as a spiritual wrongdoing.

The Rev Sereima Lomaloma, who is an Anglican priest and founding member of the House of Sarah, shared her organisation's vision for faith groups to play vital roles in ending gender-based violence in the Pacific, where rates of domestic violence often affect more than 50% of households.

Sereima admits that sometimes global campaigns can feel removed from everyday life, but she believes the church and individual Christians must face the reality of violence and respond faithfully.

"If this campaign is to achieve its purpose – to support women and girls who are victims and survivors of gender-based violence, to build safer communities and to create happier homes, then you and I must come forward and say, "I have a role to play."

"You can make a difference in how you treat others with respect, give a helping hand to someone in need, call to account those who are abusive and perpetrate violence, and stand up for those who cannot speak for themselves."

Speaking up on behalf of the Anglican Diocese of Polynesia in the campaign was Dean of Suva the Very Rev Orisi Vuki, showing how the Anglican Diocese of Polynesia's own synods have repeatedly said no to violence against women and children. Anglican priest Rev Jone Tuiwaiwai also voiced in through his role with the House of Sarah.

During the 16 Days campaign the House of Sarah held numerous workshops and services to promote awareness and positive change. 

On November 23 for 'Break the Silence' Sunday, they partnered with churches in Kinoya and Toga villages to hold four special services launching the 16 Days, where ministers encouraged their congregations to work to end domestic violence and sexual abuse.

Campaign partner the Fiji Council of Churches, which is currently served by General Secretary and Anglican priest the Rev Sepiuta Hala'api'api, provided an ecumenical perspective on the need for equality of women and men in one of the "My Faith says No to Rape and Violence Against Women" video messages. 

"It is our role as churches, as followers of Jesus Christ to care for the vulnerable in our homes and communities. For all were created in the image and likeness of God, Imago Dei." said Rev Sepiuta in her video message.

"We pray that the message and advocacy shared in the 16 Days every year since 1991 will continue to not just be a message from the pulpit, or a talanoa topic, or a workshop, but actually be put into practice by all... as our younger generations learn and remember our actions more than our words." 

The 16 video messages from faith leaders have been shared for 16 days on Facebook pages for the Fiji Council of Churches and House of Sarah and a summary video has been aired on each day between 25 November- 10 December on one of Fiji's TV stations, 'Fiji One'.

The videos were jointly produced by the House of Sarah and the Pacific Community (SPC) with support from the Australian Government's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. 

Also for this year's 16 Day of Activism, House of Sarah representatives shared gender-based violence response strategies in a training workshop with Fiji Police staff, held Gender, Equality and Theology (GET) trainings and supported the Anglican Church in Papua New Guinea to promote a similar campaign. 

Outside of campaigns like the '16 Days,' the House of Sarah works through their trained carers' network based in faith communities across Fiji, including in four Anglican churches, which provide a first point of contact for survivors of gender-based violence - offering compassion, guidance and hope. The House of Sarah also runs a refuge providing emergency accommodation to women and children escaping violence.

In her video message, the Rev Sereima Lomaloma encouraged people of faith to pause and consider what each one of us can do to stop the cycles of violence in our communities and homes. 

"Look around you. There may be someone who is feeling vulnerable, lost, anxious, depressed. If you are able to reach out to them, or connect to someone who can, then please do so today." 

For more information go to the: House of Sarah website

To see the videos for the 16 Days go to the House of Sarah Facebook page

Watch the introductory "My Faith says No" video on Youtube here.