Activism and advocacy

So what is CNEDA?

Posted by Jenni James on 9 June 2025

How did CNEDA begin?

The Covid pandemic spread globally alongside another pandemic – that of domestic abuse. As more people were forced to spend time at home, perpetrators had increased opportunity to abuse, and victims had very little (if any) access to support.

In response, Amanda Jackson, Director of the Women’s Commission of evangelical churches across the globe (WEA), gathered an international network of people who wanted to work together to help victims and survivors, and provide support for local churches and services. This network became CNEDA in August 2020, and got to work straight a away to produce “A Biblical View of Relationships to End Domestic Abuse”, a booklet resource which is now available in five languages. Since then the network has continued to grow – there are now almost 50 members – and we continue to support, pray and learn from one another.

Who are the members of CNEDA?

Our membership extends across the globe – in North and South America, Europe, Africa, Central and East Asia, and Australia. As well as diversity of language and culture, we are also diverse in our church background and types of ministry, but we are all united in our love for Jesus, our commitment to His gospel and our mission to stand against domestic abuse. Some of our members have public profiles on our website. You can find out about who they are and what they do here.

What does CNEDA do?

The Red Chair Project

In 2022, CNEDA member Valerie Duval-Poujol launched ‘The Red Chair Project’, a campaign that runs each year during the UN’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. It involves reserving an empty chair in a public place, alongside information about domestic abuse and violence against women. The empty chair acts as a powerful symbol of the many women who’ve been killed through gender-based violence – women who should still be with us today.

CNEDA has produced Red Chair Project resource packs that are available in 10 languages and are free to download.

The UN Commission for the Status of Women

In 2023, CNEDA joined with Baptist World Alliance Women to host a seminar at the NGO forum, a parallel event alongside the UN CSW. We’ve had the privilege of running further seminars in 2024 and 2025. CNEDA members have also attended the UN CSW in New York and shared their learning with the network. 

Quarterly Calls

CNEDA members meet once every 3 months on Zoom to share news, prayer requests and to receive some training. We invite speakers from both within and outside of the network, with a particular expertise, to help make CNEDA a space for mutual learning and ministry development. These calls are supplemented by monthly newsletters and a private facebook group, where members can connect with one another more regularly.

How can I support CNEDA?

Pray

Our world is big, but our world is in God’s hands. We can pray to Him, asking for Him to intervene in the lives of those affected by domestic abuse. We can pray for the ministries of our brothers and sisters who seek to support victims and survivors. You may like to sign up to receive our weekly prayer updates, which may help you to pray for CNEDA and the work of Restored.

Give

Membership of CNEDA is free, and that’s important to us, so that cost is not a barrier for anyone joining the network. But making and distributing resources costs money. Perhaps you might be able to support CNEDA, and the global ministries represented, by giving financially. You can make a one off donation or set up a regular contribution here.

Join

We are always delighted to welcome new members into the network. Perhaps you encounter domestic abuse within your work or ministry. Perhaps you know someone else who does. Please share information about the CNEDA network and sign up to join. We ask all members to confirm that they agree with the WEA’s statement of faith and CNEDA’s code of conduct.