WCC's Engagement for Children

“There can be no keener revelation of a society`s soul than the way it treats its children” - Nelson Mandela

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The World Council of Churches advocates for children's well-being through a variety of projects at local, national and global levels. Churches have a unique position to influence society, from parents and school teachers to decision makers in public and private sectors.

WCC is actively supporting through global initiatives the engagement of churches worldwide in:

Child Protection: 

  • Make sure that children feel safe in their churches, homes and communities and that children know whom to go to for help if they have a problem.
  • Support churches in their efforts to protect children in dangerous situations.
  • Help all children to have a birth certificate.

Child Participation: churches will try to make decisions together with children when such decisions have something to do with children`s lives. They also will plan activities for children together with children.

  • In church activities and planning for services and praying
  • In society

Climate Justice Initiatives with and for Children: churches organize activities with children to protect our planet.

  • In church activities
  • In society

The WCC convenes its members and partners to promote the rights of children through the "Churches’ Commitments to Children".

The programme was developed with support from UNICEF and promotes engagement of churches to end violence against children, strengthening collaboration with secular partners.

In 2017, after an 18 month consultative process involving 235 experts, a consensus was reached among WCC member churches on the question “How can churches best use their influence to improve children’s lives”. An agreement was reached on three core commitments: 1. Child Protection, 2. Child Participation, 3. Inter-generational Climate Justice.

Cover letter by the WCC general secretary

List of contributors

Churches’ Commitments to Children

Open invitation to the WCC member churches and partners to address the needs of children as an integral part of the ecumenical commitment to the pilgrimage of justice and peace.

Churches' support for children during the COVID-19 pandemic

Get involved:

  • Adopt the ”Churches’ Commitments to Children” and collaborate with our member churches and partners in their implementation,
  • Join the Online Platform and share your experiences with other churches and partners,
  • Use and share existing tools and resources.

The WCC and UNICEF designed an innovative mapping platform where member churches can request support to implement specific commitments and offer their own expertise or resources to support other churches in the implementation of the commitments.

The map to facilitate networking and collaboration among churches and partners in the implementation of the Churches' Commitments to Children.

Online mapping platform

The map to facilitate networking and collaboration among churches and partners in the implementation of the Churches' Commitments to Children.

If you would like to learn more about the Commitments and join efforts to improve child-wellbeing through churches - please contact us!

Mrs Frederique Seidel, Senior Advisor on Child Rights / Manager of global WCC-UNICEF Partnership

email: [email protected]

phone: +41 022 791 6320

Please do let us know if you would like to share your experience or tools with other churches.

 

Churches’ Commitments to Children

Open invitation to the WCC member churches and partners to address the needs of children as an integral part of the ecumenical commitment to the pilgrimage of justice and peace.

Climate-Responsible Finance - a Moral Imperative towards Children
Online mapping platform

The map to facilitate networking and collaboration among churches and partners in the implementation of the Churches' Commitments to Children.

Resources and tools

Resources and tools developed by churches, UNICEF or other WCC partner organizations, useful for the implementation of Churches’ Commitments to Children.

 

Helping Children Out of the Shadows and Into the Light

Church resources for ending sexual violence against children

WCC Child Safeguarding Policy

Child Safeguarding Policy of the World Council of Churches

Poster for Congregations

Churches uniting for children in the pilgrimage of justice and peace