Kolkata churches as a beacon of safety

At least one in four women suffer domestic violence in Kolkata. West Bengal is the Indian state with the highest number of domestic violence cases. Recognising the important role of faith leaders and religious institutions in affecting social norms, this project works with the Christian faith community in North India. This project will engage and equip 10 churches to develop strategies for reducing violence and to inform people where to go and what to do if they suffer it. This pilot project will begin within Kolkata, with churches whom we have already conducted an awareness-raising project on domestic violence. The main beneficiaries will be women and children, who would suffer less violence if communities had greater sensitivity and knowledge of the issue.