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World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit has accepted an invitation from the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children to serve on the organization’s board of directors.

At the second-ever convening of the Moral Imperative in New York City on 22 September, advocates from faith-based groups joined World Bank representatives and UN officials to discern the next steps for a diverse group of people trying to end extreme poverty by 2030.

WASHINGTON, DC: At 12:30 pm ET Wednesday, September 14, 2016, General Secretaries Jim Winkler (National Council of Churches, USA) and Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit (World Council of Churches) will issue a statement summarizing the work of this week's groundbreaking consultation between Christian leaders, humanitarian organizations, and human rights organizations on disturbing new developments in the Holy Land.

As wars and conflict continue to force thousands of families to flee their homes every day, the WCC appeals to all people of good will to support the UNHCR’s #WithRefugees campaign. By signing a petition to be handed over to the UN headquarters before the General Assembly meeting on 19 September, people around the globe are asked to raise their voices, to ensure that every refugee child gets an education, that every refugee family has somewhere safe to live, and that every refugee can work or learn new skills to make a positive contribution to their community.

Les guerres et les conflits continuent chaque jour de contraindre des milliers de familles à fuir leur foyer et c’est pourquoi le COE appelle toutes les personnes de bonne volonté à soutenir la campagne #AvecLesRéfugiés du Haut-Commissariat des Nations Unies pour les réfugiés. En signant une pétition qui sera délivrée au siège de l’ONU avant le 19 septembre, pendant la session de l’Assemblée générale, les habitants de la planète entière peuvent faire entendre leur voix pour faire en sorte que chaque enfant réfugié ait accès à l’instruction, que chaque famille réfugiée ait un endroit où vivre en toute sécurité et que chaque personne réfugiée puisse travailler ou apprendre de nouvelles compétences pour apporter une contribution positive à sa communauté.

“Negotiate a legally-binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons”. Do it “in 2017”. Make sure the negotiations are “open to all states” and include civil society. These are key points in a much-disputed report adopted last week by a United Nations working group of more than 100 countries meeting in Geneva.

«Négocier un instrument juridiquement contraignant pour interdire les armes nucléaires.» Le faire «en 2017». Veiller à ce que les négociations soient «ouvertes à tous les États» et mobilisent la société civile. Voici les points essentiels qui ressortent d’un rapport adopté la semaine dernière à Genève au terme d’âpres négociations par un groupe de travail des Nations Unies composé de plus d’une centaine de pays. Le rapport contenant ces recommandations audacieuses a été adopté à une majorité de trois contre un tout en bénéficiant d’un vaste soutien interrégional en dépit du boycott des puissances nucléaires et d’une vive résistance de la part de leurs alliés.

“Peace is not just a ceasefire. Peace is not just the silencing of arms. Peace is education. Peace is figuring out how to coexist and how to build together.”

To raise awareness on the work of churches and church-related organizations engaged in peace-building efforts in Colombia, the WCC and Caritas Internationalis are promoting an event in New York on 18 August.

Canadian Lutheran World Relief and the WCC are planning joint action on refugee rights now that the Canadian church agency has been approved for WCC membership. Plans are for CLWR to collaborate with WCC on advocacy initiatives through the Ecumenical United Nations Office in New York.

L’Entraide luthérienne mondiale du Canada et le COE prévoient une action commune de défense des droits des réfugiés maintenant que l’adhésion au COE de l’organisation ecclésiale canadienne a été approuvée. Le CLWR devrait collaborer avec le COE pour les initiatives de défense des causes par l’intermédiaire du Bureau du COE auprès des Nations Unies (EUNO) à New York.

This year a “Sunday of Prayer for the Peaceful Reunification of the Korean Peninsula” will be observed on 14 August by the WCC with the peoples and churches of Korea and of the world. The WCC invites all member churches and people of good will to join in prayer, to achieve reconciliation and healing of the divided Korean peninsula, and to foster an environment that will see peaceful reunification in the peninsula by the conclusion of a peace treaty.

This year's “Sunday of Prayer for the Peaceful Reunification of the Korean Peninsula” will be observed on 14 August. The special day of prayer follows a visit from a delegation of the National Council of Churches in Korea and the National Council of Churches USA with USA policymakers. The delegation is advocating for a permanent peace treaty between North and South Korea.

The WCC offered prayers for peace in the USA while condemning acts of violence in recent days that have shocked the nation and people around the world.

The Central Committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC), at its meeting in Trondheim, Norway, 27 June 2016, has elected a new executive committee with 11 new members.

Lors de sa session à Trondheim (Norvège), le Comité central du COE a élu un nouveau Comité exécutif comprenant 11 nouveaux membres.

The general secretary of the World Council of Churches expressed “shock, outrage and sadness” over the tragic events in Orlando, Florida on Sunday 12 June 2016. In what is said to be the worst mass shooting in US history, 50 people are reported to have lost their lives and 53 more were wounded in an attack by a single gunman.

As a United Nations high-level meeting on ending AIDS led to the adoption of a new political declaration to fast-track progress toward combating HIV and AIDS, the faith community responded, both with words of commendation and a call for changes.

At an interfaith prayer service on 7 June, people from diverse faith communities issued a call to action to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. The call focuses on reducing stigma and discrimination; increasing access to HIV services; defending human rights; and ensuring testing and treatment for all, including children.

On the occasion of US President Barack Obama’s visit to the Japanese city of Hiroshima on 27 May, WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit sent greetings, noting that this is a time when signs of peace and justice are sorely needed.