Violence against women is a sin, the head of a Reformed church body ministry said as the group joined a global awareness campaign which calls on people to wear the color orange on Feb. 25 as a symbol of support for tthe effort.

"Violence against women is not only crime, it is a sin," says Dora Arce-Valentín, head of  the justice and parternship office of the World Communion of Reformed Churches which has an anti-violence campaign.

"This UN initiative matches WCRC's concern for stopping the repeated and horrific crimes to which women and girls worldwide are subjected," she said.

The United Nations is promoting every 25th day of the month as "Orange Day" when women and men are encouraged to wear something orange. The effort is based on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women which takes place on Nov. 25 every year.

"WCRC is committed to working with member churches to sound the alarm about abuse of women and children. We want to work with them to address the conditions that lead to violence. This includes creating positive, non-violent models of masculinity," says Arce-Valentín.