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Die Teilnehmenden der Weltkonferenz gegen „Fremdenfeindlichkeit, Rassismus und populistischen Nationalismus vor dem Hintergrund weltweiter Migration“ haben am 19. September eine Botschaft veröffentlicht, die das Recht auf Asyl für diejenigen bekräftigt und aufrechterhält, die vor Krieg, Verfolgung oder Naturkatastrophen fliehen, und fordert Respekt für die Rechte aller Menschen, die aus diesen Gründen ihre Heimat verlassen müssen.

Participants at the conference “Xenophobia, Racism and Populist Nationalism in the Context of Global Migration” released a message on 19 September that affirms and upholds the institution of asylum for those fleeing from war, persecution or natural disaster, and invokes respect for the rights for all people on the move.

The conference, held in Rome, was organized jointly by the World Council of Churches and the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development in collaboration with the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

Climate change and foreign debt are intersecting human rights issues, and faith communities can contribute to better understanding and addressing these concerns, agreed many who attended a side event held on the occasion of the 39th Human Rights Council at Palais des Nations in Geneva on 18 September.

Religiöse Führungskräfte und Delegierte der Zivilgesellschaft aus unterschiedlichen Ländern sowie mehrere christliche Kirchen trafen sich vom 18.–20. September in Rom und erörterten die dringende Aufgabe, gegen die zunehmende weltweite Angst vor so genannten „Fremden“ vorzugehen.

Religious leaders and civil society representatives of different countries and diverse Christian churches gathered in Rome from 18-20 September to discuss the urgent task of combating the world’s increasing fear of so-called “strangers.”

Last week, the chairperson of the WCC Ecumenical Water Network, bishop Arnold Temple from The Methodist Church Sierra Leone, came to Stockholm to participate in the World Water Week, which is the world’s leading annual water event where experts and decision-makers from all over the world gather to strengthen the systems and processes that govern access to – and protection of – fresh water.

Matthew Ross, World Council of Churches programme executive for Diakonia and Capacity Building, spoke at the opening of the academic year at VID University in Oslo, Norway on 13 August.

Kirchenoberhäupter in Israel und in den besetzten palästinensischen Gebieten haben mit Bestürzung und Sorge auf die Verabschiedung eines neuen Gesetzes am 19. Juli in der israelischen Knesset reagiert, wonach Israel der Nationalstaat des jüdischen Volkes ist. Das bedeutet, dass „das Recht zur Ausübung nationaler Selbstbestimmung im Staate Israel ausschließlich dem jüdischen Volk vorbehalten ist.“

Heads of churches in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories have reacted with dismay and concern to the Israeli Knesset’s adoption on 19 July 2018 of a new Basic Law: Israel as the Nation-State of the Jewish People, which specifies that “The right to exercise national self-determination in the State of Israel is unique to the Jewish people.”

Escalating violence in Cameroon, including graphic violence against women and children, has drawn condemnation from the World Council of Churches.

An independent expert panel has been appointed to review current UNAIDS policies and processes for addressing and preventing harassment. Among the members is Dr Fulata Moyo, former World Council of Churches programme executive for a Just Community of Women and Men.

The Christian Conference of Asia is urging its member churches and councils to join the UN’s call to observe 30 July as the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) joined the Council of Bishops of the United Methodist Church (UMC) as well as United Methodist bishops in the Philippines in appealing to the government of the Philippines for assistance and cooperation in extracting three United Methodist mission personnel from the country.

The first World Conference on “Religions, Creeds and Value Systems: Joining Forces to Enhance Equal Citizenship Rights” will be held on 25 June 2018 under the Patronage of His Royal Highness Prince El Hassan bin Talal of Jordan. It will mark a new conceptual departure towards expanding the boundaries of the convergence of values, which bring the world of religions and faiths together.

As the World Association for Christian Communication celebrates its 50th anniversary, the organization continues to explore how communication can help advance justice and build peace.

Zwei prominente norwegische Verantwortungsträger haben sich in Genf getroffen, um über Umweltthemen zu reden und eine engere Zusammenarbeit zu verabreden. Erik Solheim, Exekutivdirektor des UN-Umweltprogramms (UNEP) und Untergeneralsekretär der Vereinten Nationen, besuchte am 10. April das Ökumenische Zentrum des ÖRK in der Schweiz und erörterte dort mit dem ÖRK-Generalsekretär Pastor Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit den Sinn und die Bedeutung einer Zusammenarbeit in Umweltfragen, um auf diese Weise der Welt Hoffnung zu geben.

Two Norwegian world leaders met in Geneva to discuss environmental issues and open up for closer collaboration. Erik Solheim, UN Environment executive director and under-secretary-general of the United Nations visited the World Council of Churches (WCC) in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland on 10 April, where he discussed with WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit both the meaning and importance of working together on environmental issues to bring hope to the world.

Hundreds of people gathered, then hundreds more, the crowd growing and marching in silence to the beat of a drum as dawn broke on 4 April, 50 years to the day since Rev. Dr Martin Luther King, Jr., was murdered in Memphis, Tennessee.

Dr Ulysses Burley III is serving as a WCC delegate to the 62nd Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations in New York City (CSW62), being held 12-23 March. Dr Burley, from Chicago, is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He currently serves on the WCC-Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance HIV Access to Treatment Working Group.

When more than 100 religious leaders and other actors from around the world gathered at the UN in Vienna in mid-February, it was a manifestation of unity between religious and non-religious organizations, and a genuine commitment to cooperate in dealing with hate speech and incitement to violence that could lead to atrocity crimes.