The Interfaith Domestic Violence Coalition, convened by Jewish Women International, is a national effort for faith based organizations to come together to provide policy and legislative guidance on domestic violence issues.
The Interfaith Domestic Violence Coalition is composed of faith communities that believe violence and abuse in relationships are never justified. It has a shared commitment to create positive change, and to advocate with its collective voice for national legislation and public policies that protect all people from domestic violence, with particular concern for women and children.
Recognizing that domestic violence survivors often turn to their religious leaders and houses of worship for support, guidance and refuge during times of abuse, Jewish Women International (JWI) convened the first-of-its-kind Interfaith Domestic Violence Coalition to unite the collective energies and visions of faith communities to advance federal domestic violence legislation. As a national coalition representing millions of congregants from different faith communities, our moral, religious and ethical commitments guide its work in ending violence against women. The Coalition works collaboratively with national secular domestic violence organizations creating a powerful and dynamic partnership.
The Coalition launched in February 2008 with a bi-partisan Capitol Hill briefing for over 100 people, entitled "Policy & Persuasion: How Faith-Based Communities Can Work Together to Advance Domestic Violence Laws," at which Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Rep. Ted Poe (R-Texas) spoke along with faith leaders from the Coalition. The Coalition meets monthly to discuss legislative initiatives, goes on joint lobby visits, and is taking an active role in the International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA). In 2009, the IDVC co-sponsored Advocacy Day as part of JWI’s 4th International Conference on Domestic Abuse. The IDVC presented testimony on domestic violence at the 2008 Democratic National Committee National Platform Hearing.
Comprised of more than 20 organizations, this growing coalition represents many faiths and denominations and millions of congregants spanning the Jewish, Muslim, Bahá’í, United Methodist, Catholic, Evangelical, Presbyterian, United Church of Christ, Latter-day Saints, Seventh-Day Adventist and Unitarian Universalist communities.
Current members include: Asian Women’s Self Help Association • Building Families, Inc. • The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints • FaithTrust Institute • Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary • Interfaith Community Against Domestic Violence, Montgomery County, MD • ML Ministries • Islamic Social Services Association (ISSA-USA) • The Jewish Council for Public Affairs • Jewish Women International • Mennonite Central Committee • NA’AMAT USA • National Council of Jewish Women • National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd • North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists • Peaceful Families Project • Presbyterian Health Education and Welfare Association (PHEWA) • Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing • Safe Havens • Union for Reform Judaism • Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations • United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries • United Methodist Church, The General Board of Church & Society.
If your national organization is interested in joining the Coalition, please contact JWI at programming@jwi.org.