The Universal Declaration of Human Rights' 60th anniversary makes 2008 an opportunity for passionate church advocacy

An illustration of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at the United Nations building in New York.
Photo: Zack Lee, 2007

As 2008 marks the 60th anniversary of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it will be a "fantastic opportunity" for churches to re-connect with the endeavour of protecting and promoting human dignity, participants at an international ecumenical consultation were told.

"Next year will be a 'kairos' - an appropriate time - for the ecumenical movement to re-connect with the cause of human rights. Churches can make of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration an opportunity for human rights evangelism, as if were", said Peter Prove, assistant to the general secretary for International Affairs and Human Rights at the Lutheran World Federation.

According to Prove, churches have moral authority, broad reach, capacity for education and ability to build bridges with other faiths and civil society. All that puts them in a unique position to make an impact on international mechanisms for the protection of human rights.

Prove was speaking at a panel on "ecumenical strategy" during the 5-7 December international consultation "Towards protection of human rights and human dignity amidst conflicts". Called by the World Council of Churches, the consultation gathered in Geneva some 40 participants: church leaders, human rights advocates, social and political activists, policy-makers and human rights experts from Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, Middle East, North America and the Pacific.

Also speaking at the "ecumenical strategy panel", the Rev. Dr Jochen Motte, from the United Evangelical Mission (Germany), proposed a number of recommendations for ecumenical human rights advocacy. Amongst them, the need for ecumenical organizations to give relevant input to the UN Human Rights Council also on those cases when "churches on the ground are not in a position to do it by themselves" was affirmed.

The role of linking UN human rights agencies with human rights defenders and victims of human rights violations was also stressed. Facilitating the presence of the latter at sessions of Geneva-based UN human rights bodies has been one of the features of the ecumenical role in this field that must continue, Motte said.

More on the WCC work on human rights