On International Women’s Day, March 8, as the world marks another step forward in the fight for gender equality, the need to address gender-based violence and discrimination remains as urgent as ever. Faith communities, activists, and global organizations continue to challenge systemic injustice, united in the belief that gender-based violence in all its forms is not only a human rights violation but a sin that must be confronted head-on. This day serves as a call to action, emphasizing the importance of truth, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to justice in the face of ongoing oppression.

WCRC at the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women

The World Communion of Reformed Churches’ (WCRC) participation in the 69th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) at the United Nations, represented by Minwoo Oh, program coordinator for gender justice, brings gender justice to the forefront of global discussions. This year’s Ecumenical Women at the United Nations theme, “A Call to Justice and Joy,” deeply resonates with the ongoing movement for equality. Rooted in Proverbs 21:15—“The exercise of justice is joy for the righteous, but terror to those who practice injustice” (NASB)—the theme emphasizes the inseparable link between justice and joy.

CSW69 is particularly significant as it marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action—a landmark blueprint for women’s rights. Representatives from member states, U.N. agencies, and accredited NGOs will gather from March 10-21, 2025, to evaluate progress and chart the way forward for gender equality.

A Prophetic Response to Gender-Based Violence

At the 2017 General Council in Leipzig, the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) committed to urging new dialogue with ecumenical partners to advocate for gender justice at the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women (Action 32). This year’s discussions reaffirm the urgent need for concrete action to dismantle gender-based violence in all its forms.

The world continues to grapple with war, economic disparity, and social fragmentation, which disproportionately impact women and marginalized communities. In response, faith-based movements like the WCRC are mobilizing efforts to offer a prophetic vision—one that not only condemns injustice but actively builds a future where justice and joy coexist.

“For many women worldwide, despair and destroyed life is a daily reality,” said Minwoo Oh. “Reformed churches are called to be instruments of God’s peace in the world as holy agitators and imitators of Christ with compassion, righteous indignation, and joy.”

Joy, as a force for change, is not an escape from struggle but an active engagement in the fight for equality. It flourishes where righteousness prevails—where societies work to dismantle patriarchal oppression, racial discrimination, and economic inequality.

Integrating Gender Justice into Faith-Based Advocacy for a Transformed Future

As the global church reflects on the themes of the Beijing Platform for Action, it does so with a renewed commitment to gender justice. WCRC’s participation at CSW69 seeks to inject theological perspectives into global discussions, emphasizing the interconnection between justice and joy.

Women’s rights are human rights—a principle that faith communities must integrate into their spiritual and advocacy work. The call to justice is a call to righteousness, and by embedding this ethos within religious spaces, faith-based movements can create transformative change.

A Call to Action

This International Women’s Day, faith communities worldwide are invited to engage in prophetic visioning. The call to justice is clear: seek justice for the oppressed, amplify the voices of women, and affirm the sacredness of their experiences. As WCRC joins the dialogue at CSW69, it does so with a joyous message—one that envisions a world where justice is not an aspiration but a lived reality.

May our collective actions reflect the wisdom of Proverbs 21:15—“The exercise of justice is joy for the righteous.” May our churches, mosques, synagogues, and temples become sanctuaries where justice and joy intertwine, shaping a future where all can flourish.

Join us in prayer, advocacy, and action as we continue this sacred journey toward justice and joy.

Let us confess that gender-based violence and discrimination in all its forms are sins (Action 32). Commit to action by formulating a gender justice policy in your church ministry—transform the church and be a force for justice!

Read the Statement from Ecumenical Women at the United Nations

With the support of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the Council for World Mission (CWM).