This week marks International Women’s Day on Thursday. At CSW, we’re privileged to work with many inspiring women all over the world who stand up for freedom of religion or belief despite the additional layer of difficulties added because of their gender, including misogyny, fewer educational opportunities, and fewer chances to raise their voices. Please join us in praying for them this week: for God to bless them and their work, and in hope for a future of equality and justice 

• Sunday 4 March
  

The Ladies in White are a group of brave women who peacefully protest in support of human rights in Cuba. Every Sunday, they attend Mass wearing white to symbolise peace, and then walk silently through their town as a reminder that they are still awaiting the release of their unjustly detained family members. In recent years, state security agents and police have physically prevented hundreds of them from attending religious services, often violently. Praise God for their courage, and pray that the government would respect their right to attend religious services without hindrance.

• Monday 5 March
  

In September 2017, a multi-denominational service in the town of El Cristo was forcibly shut down by state security agents and government officials, even though the church leaders had obtained official permission for the event. Some of the pastors involved were threatened with arrest if they attempted to hold such events in future. Today please pray for church leaders working to build unity across denominations, asking God to grant them endurance. 

• Tuesday 6 March
  

One of CSW’s long-term partners is Michelle Chaudhry, head of the Cecil and Iris Chaudhry Foundation in Pakistan. Michelle fights tirelessly for the rights of minorities and is a dedicated advocate for freedom of religion or belief. It’s a challenging and often dangerous job; please pray that God would protect her as she goes about her work. 

• Wednesday 7 March
  

Last month we told you about Wang Hongwu, whose husband, Pastor Yang Hua, is currently serving a two and a half year prison sentence for ‘divulging state secrets’. Their church, Living Stone Church, is under immense government pressure (for example, every single member of the church has been visited at their home by government officials): please continue to pray that God’s presence would comfort and support Wang.

• Thursday 8 March
  

Tran Thi Hong, a member of the civil society organisation Vietnamese Women for Human Rights, reported several incidents of ‘intolerable’ harassment against her and her family between March and May 2016, including severe beatings during interrogation sessions. Over a year later, human rights defenders like Tran Thi Hong still experience harassment every day: please pray for God to protect them from further abuse.

• Friday 9 March
  

If you were at our 2017 conference, you would have heard the powerful story of Helen Berhane, an Eritrean woman who was arrested in 2004. Beaten and imprisoned, she spent 32 months in a shipping container without adequate light, ventilation or food. However, her faith sustained her and she was even able to write new songs while in prison. Join us in thanking God for Helen’s amazing courage and endurance.

• Saturday 10 March
  

Lord, we’re so privileged to work with so many godly, inspiring women all over the world. Thank you for raising them up and empowering them to fight for justice and freedom in their countries: we pray that they will have faith, hope and endurance to keep doing their amazing work even when it seems almost impossible. Amen.