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Traveling from Tanzania, Esther Ngulwa brought a sense of hope regarding gender equality as she spoke on 10 March, two days before the start of the 62nd Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW62) in New York City.

On 22 January, the World Council of Churches, together with the ACT Alliance, General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, United Nations Office on Genocide Prevention and Responsibility to Protect, and the UN Inter-Agency Task Force with Faith Based Organizations, co-organized the Fourth Annual Symposium on the Role of Religion and Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs) in International Affairs with the theme “Perspectives on migration: displacement and marginalization, inclusion and justice”.

Bishop Mary Ann Swenson has a unique position in observing and advocating for women’s rights or, as she would quickly clarify, “the fair treatment of human beings” no matter what their gender. As bishop-in-residence at the Hollywood United Methodist Church, she ministers to church members who were not only present at this week’s Golden Globe Awards – they were the nominees. And, as vice-moderator of the WCC Central Committee, she is part of a global parish, traveling to communities far removed from the privilege of Hollywood, where violence occurs against women who are seen by their own communities as having no voice and no rights.

L’évêque Mary Ann Swenson occupe une position unique en matière d’observation et de défense des droits des femmes ou, comme elle se hâterait de rectifier, du «traitement équitable des êtres humains» quel que soit leur sexe. En tant qu’évêque résidente de l’Église méthodiste unie à Hollywood, en Californie (États-Unis), elle exerce son ministère auprès de fidèles qui n’ont pas seulement assisté aux Golden Globe Awards de cette semaine: ils ont également concouru pour les prix décernés. D’autre part, en tant que vice-présidente du Comité central du COE, elle fait partie d’une paroisse mondiale qui se rend dans des communautés très éloignées des quartiers privilégiés d’Hollywood, où les violences faites aux femmes sont une réalité: leurs propres communautés ne leur reconnaissent aucun droit, notamment à la parole.

Douglas Leonard, from the Reformed Church in America (RCA), was announced as the new coordinator of the Ecumenical United Nations Office (EUNO), a joint working space of the World Council of Churches (WCC) and ACT Alliance, in New York.

The World Council of Churches and the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA grieve with the families of those who lost their lives in the mass shooting that took place in Las Vegas, Nevada, on the night of October 1, 2017. We pray for those whose lives have been shattered by this senseless act and lift up those who will be recovering years to come.

At a “Hearing on Racism, Discrimination, Afrophobia and Xenophobia” held at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva on 25 September, speakers reflected, lamented and, at times, simply sat in silence as they considered the experience of people of African descent in the USA.

On 20 September at the United Nations in New York, a treaty to ban nuclear weapons was formally opened for signature. At the time of writing, some 49 states have signed.

Le 20 septembre, au siège de l’ONU à New York, un traité d’interdiction des armes nucléaires a été officiellement ouvert à la signature. Au moment de la rédaction, 49 États avaient signé.

Dr. Emily Welty is an assistant professor in Peace and Justice Studies at Pace University in New York City (USA). She also serves as vice moderator of the WCC Commission of the Churches on International Affairs. As an advocate for banning nuclear weapons, Dr Welty is known both for her unwavering belief in a world free from nuclear weapons, and for her strategic thinking toward that goal.

The need for the ecumenical movement is an urgent one today, said World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit as he spoke this week at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University in Minnesota (USA).

On Saturday in Charlottesville, one woman died and 19 others were injured when a man who, after rallying with white supremacist groups, rammed his car into a crowd. Earlier in the day, two law enforcement officers lost their lives when their helicopter crashed as they patrolled the building crowds.

As the recent developments of nuclear weapons and increased tensions between United States and North Korea leaders can bring the world to the brink of war, churches around the world are calling for bilateral dialogue, expressing their commitment to peace and nonviolent resolution.

À la lumière des progrès récents de l’armement nucléaire et de l’aggravation des tensions entre les dirigeants des États-Unis et de la Corée du Nord qui pourraient conduire la planète au bord de la guerre, les Églises du monde entier appellent à un dialogue bilatéral, exprimant ainsi leur attachement à la paix et à la résolution non violente du conflit.

Banning nuclear weapons is something like climbing a mountain. The summit of this mountain – agreement on a ban treaty – is now clearly in view at United Nations negotiations in New York.

Expressing concern regarding recently announced US measures related to refugee admissions and entry into the US by seven Muslim-majority countries, the World Council of Churches (WCC), ACT Alliance (ACT), and The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) affirmed that faith calls all Christians to love and welcome the stranger, the refugee, the internally displaced person - “the other.”

Le Conseil œcuménique des Églises (COE), ACT Alliance (ACT) et la Fédération luthérienne mondiale (FLM) ont fait savoir leur préoccupation à propos des mesures américaines récentes relatives à l’accueil et à l’entrée aux États-Unis des réfugiés en provenance de sept pays à majorité musulmane. Ces organisations ont déclaré que la foi appelle les chrétiens à aimer et à accueillir l’étranger, le réfugié, les personnes déplacées, autrement dit : « l’autre ».

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.

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.