International Women’s Day was marked Saturday with a lunch under the theme communities in action ending violence against women and girls.  Guest speaker Byron Hurt who is a film maker, writer and activist explained this violence is not only a women’s problem it’s also a men’s problem and there is a role for the community.  He says we have to enlist people to use their voice and to see themselves as being powerful to stand up and to speak out in support of victims and survivors of violence against women and he thinks that’s something that happens but it doesn’t happen enough.

Hurt added we need more men who are willing to gain the knowledge and ability to stand up against men who abuse and stand up for women who are being abused and this education has to start at an early age.  He says hopefully we can all be motivated to learn to work together to end the problem of violence against women around the world.