Adsafe in collaboration with Adventist Media have created a video to increase awareness about abuse and its impact within the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s organisational context.
The video will be circulated to all churches and schools in Australia and New Zealand in readiness for enditnow, a global Adventist Church initiative to raise awareness and advocate for the end of violence around the world. This year’s focus is on “abuse of power”, with an emphasis day scheduled for this Sabbath (August 27).
“The statistics in Australia alone on domestic violence and child abuse demonstrate how big the problem is—statistics that are based on reported cases of physical and sexual abuse only often don’t consider emotional abuse or the fact that many survivors suffer in silence,” said Adsafe general manager Ann Beaumont.
“In a 2016 report published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, it was highlighted that 1 in 6 women and 1 in 16 men had experienced physical or sexual abuse perpetrated by their partner. One in 4 girls and 1 in 8 or 9 boys in Australia will experience child abuse before the age of 15. These figures provide a small glimpse of the magnitude of the issue of abuse. However, the statistics don’t show the emotional/psychological toll of abuse on the survivor, their family or the community.
“Protecting children and the vulnerable is a shared responsibility that is close to God’s heart,” Ms Beaumont added.
“We can choose to make a difference for the one hurt and vulnerable person we meet. How we individually support, comfort, accept and believe those who are hurting can help a survivor on their healing journey. Choose to make a difference for someone today.”
In 2016, the Seventh-day Adventist Church–South Pacific Division established Adsafe, a company that provides protective services for children and vulnerable adults through supporting survivors, risk management and safeguarding/educational services.
If this article has raised concerns for you, you can reach out for support on: Adsafe +61 2 9847 3488, 1800 220 468 (AUS), 0800 442 468 (NZ) Lifeline (AUS) 13 11 14, Lifeline Aotearoa NZ 0800 543 354 and 1800 RESPECT (737 732). If you would like more information on how to support a survivor, please feel free to contact Adsafe on the above numbers.
