About EWN The EWN – What we stand for
- Photo: Pablo León-Asuero Moreno / Flickr.com/photos/kapuxino
Water scarcity belongs to the pressing environmental issues of today’s world. Many countries suffer from water shortage. Large numbers of people have no access to water and lack adequate means of sanitation. If present conditions continue to prevail, the situation is bound to become worse in the coming decades.
The Ecumenical Water Network was formed by Christian agencies and movements:
- to make a Christian witness heard in the present debate on water issues,
- to raise the awareness of the churches on the urgency of the concern,
- to engage as an ecumenical community in common action at all levels
with the aim to promote the preservation, responsible management and the equitable distribution of water for all, based on the understanding that water is a gift of God and a fundamental human right.
For a more in-depth description of the objectives, convictions and the theological base of the EWN, please refer to:
"Waters of Life"
Framework for the Ecumenical Water Network. (HTML document)
"Water of Life. An invitation to participate in the Ecumenical Water Network"
A collection of different texts, this brochure contains not only the Framework for the Ecumenical Water Network but also reflections on water as a biblical topic, pressing issues, as well as encouraging stories of hope. The Ecumenical Declaration by Churches of Brazil and Switzerland is included in English and Portuguese. (PDF document / 9,51MB) Click with right mouse button on the link and choose "Save target as..." to download.)
WCC Statement on Water for Life
Adopted by the World Council of Churches (WCC) 9th Assembly, 14-23 February 2006, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
What we do
Promoting community-based solutions
Our member Churches’ experience shows that community based initiatives can have a great and direct impact on people’s access to water. Projects that are planned and implemented at the local and regional level by those who are actually concerned often prove to be more effective and sustainable. Different than charity and top-down programmes they give communities and people a sense of empowerment and self-esteem.
Around the world, churches and church-related organizations are involved in the day-to-day efforts to provide freshwater and sanitation to communities. The EWN will facilitate an exchange between its members and partners on their struggles and experiences. In the coming years we hope to build up and make available a knowledge base on initiatives and best practices.
Human rights advocacy
To the largest degree possible responsibility for the management and distribution of water should be placed in the hands of the communities depending on it. Still, national and international policies should provide for optimal conditions to make access to water for all a reality. Current trends, such as the promotion of liberalization and increasing corporate control over water sources and supply systems endanger people’s access to and control over their water. Often, government policies do not reach or even deprive those who most urgently need water.
Governments need to understand that it is their obligation to respect, protect and fulfil people’s right to water. Doing so includes giving priority to the needs and rights of the most vulnerable groups in society. Democratic control of water supply systems and resources needs to be ensured as well as public accountability and transparency.
Members of the EWN Steering Group
The current provisional Steering Group comprises representatives of:
- All Africa Conference of Churches
- Brot für die Weld (Germany)
- Church of Sweden
- Church World Service (USA)
- Norwegian Church Aid
- World Council of Churches
New members will be elected at the first EWN Participants' Meeting which will take place 22-24 October 2008 in Bossey, Switzerland.
Join today
Joining the Ecumenical Water Network is simple: Churches and church-related organizations can become participants of the Ecumenical Water Network by endorsing the "EWN Basic Agreement" and sending back the sign-up form to the EWN Secretariat.
By joining, you commit yourself to contributing to the objectives of the network. Your organization will be invited to attend the EWN Participants' Meetings which will take place regularly to provide a space for sharing experiences and shaping strategies. Participant organizations are entitled to vote on decisions at these meetings and to present candidates for and elect the members of the EWN Steering Group.
If you are an individual or if your organization is not church-related, you are most welcome to sign up as a supporter of EWN. As a supporter you will also be entitled to participate in the EWN Participants' Meetings, however without voting rights.