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The World Council of Churches (WCC), a global fellowship of 352 churches representing more than half a billion Christians from around the world, has been deeply involved in the work of the United Nations from as early as 1946 through its Commission of the Churches on International Affairs (CCIA). The WCC is a platform for common action by churches on issues that negate or threaten the dignity of all people. 

The World Council of Churches (WCC) is sharing materials for a “Week of Prayer for Overcoming Racism and Xenophobia”—a week that includes the UN International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on 21 March and the UN International Day for the Remembrance of Victims of Slavery and the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade on 25 March.

Reinforcing the traditional role of faith communities in offering sanctuary and, indeed hospitality to refugees, 90 faith-based leaders today committed to offering their continued and additional support to refugees, including children, on their journey to safety, including in reception and admission, meeting protection or service delivery needs and supporting communities to find solutions such as private sponsorship or scholarship programmes.

The Churches’ Commission for Migrants in Europe, at its General Assembly held in Rome on 6-8 November, published a message entitled “Protect people, protect our humanity." The message acknowledged the immense work being done by churches and other people of good will all over Europe. 

Greetings of Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay, general secretary of the World Council of Churches on the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington, DC for Jobs and Freedom.

El Espíritu del Señor está sobre mí,

porque me ha ungido

para anunciar buenas nuevas a los pobres;

me ha enviado para proclamar libertad a los cautivos

y vista a los ciegos,

para poner en libertad a los oprimidos

y para proclamar el año agradable del Señor.

(Lucas 4:18-19)

La declaración reconoce que el actual contexto mundial está marcado por el aumento de los conflictos, las divisiones y las desigualdades; por el resurgimiento del racismo, los ataques xenófobos a las personas migrantes, el antisemitismo, las violaciones de los derechos de la mujer y otras formas de discriminación, y por las amenazas contra las personas que defienden los derechos humanos, así como por el autoritarismo, el nacionalismo populista y las formas de extremismo religioso y de otros tipos, que constituyen un serio peligro para la seguridad física y la dignidad y los derechos humanos de diversas comunidades y personas en todo el mundo. 

Der Geist des Herrn ist auf mir,

weil er mich gesalbt hat

und gesandt, zu verkündigen das Evangelium den Armen,

zu predigen den Gefangenen, dass sie frei sein sollen,

und den Blinden, dass sie sehen sollen,

und die Zerschlagenen zu entlassen in die Freiheit

und zu verkündigen das Gnadenjahr des Herrn.

(Lukas 4;18-19)

Der derzeitige globale Kontext ist geprägt von eskalierenden Konflikten, Spaltungen, Ungleichbehandlungen, wiedererstarkendem Rassismus, fremdenfeindlichen Angriffen auf Migrierende, Antisemitismus, Verletzungen der Frauenrechte und anderen Formen der Diskriminierung, Bedrohungen von Menschenrechtsverfechtern, autoritären Regierungssystemen, populistischem Nationalismus sowie religiösem und anderweitigem Extremismus, die eine massive Gefahr für die körperliche Sicherheit sowie die Menschenwürde und die Rechte diverser Gemeinschaften und Einzelpersonen rund um die Welt darstellen.

L’Esprit du Seigneur est sur moi

parce qu’il m’a conféré l’onction

pour annoncer la Bonne Nouvelle aux pauvres.

Il m’a envoyé proclamer aux captifs la libération

et aux aveugles le retour à la vue,

renvoyer les opprimés en liberté,

proclamer une année d’accueil par le Seigneur.

(Luc 4:18-19)

Le contexte mondial actuel est marqué par l'escalade des conflits, les divisions, les inégalités, la résurgence du racisme, les attaques xénophobes contre les migrants, l'antisémitisme, les violations des droits des femmes et d'autres formes de discrimination, les menaces contre les défenseur-e-s des droits humains, ainsi que l'autoritarisme, le nationalisme populiste et les formes d'extrémisme religieux et autres, qui mettent gravement en péril la sécurité physique et la dignité et les droits humains de diverses communautés et personnes dans le monde.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me

to bring good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives

and recovery of sight to the blind,

to let the oppressed go free,

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.

(Luke 4:18-19)

The current global context is marked by escalating conflicts, divisions, inequalities, resurgent racism, xenophobic attacks on migrants, antisemitism, violations of the rights of women and other forms of discrimination, threats against human rights defenders, as well as authoritarianism, populist nationalism, and religious and other forms of extremism, that threaten grave peril for the physical security and human dignity and rights of diverse communities and individuals around the world.

Entonces Dios dijo: “Hagamos al hombre a nuestra imagen, conforme a nuestra semejanza” (Génesis 1:26)

Und Gott sprach: Lasset uns Menschen machen, ein Bild, das uns gleich sei. (1.Mose 1,26)

Dieu dit: «Faisons l’homme à notre image, selon notre ressemblance (Genèse 1,26)

Then God said, ‘Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness (Genesis 1:26)

The World Council of Churches, at its 11th assembly, in Karlsruhe, Germany, abhors the perpetuation of all forms of racism, xenophobia and related discriminations against humanity and the pervasive suffering it causes. 

El mensaje de la conferencia sobre Perspectivas cristianas sobre la dignidad humana y los derechos humanos, que fue organizada conjuntamente por el CMI, la Misión Evangélica Unida y la Iglesia Evangélica en Alemania en Wuppertal (Alemania) y en línea del 9 al 12 de abril de 2022.

Le message de la conférence sur les Perspectives chrétiennes sur la dignité humaine et les droits humains, organisée conjointement par le COE, l’UEM et l’EKD à Wuppertal (Allemagne) et en ligne, du 9 au 12 avril 2022.

Die Botschaft der Konferenz zu Christlichen Perspektiven zu menschlicher Würde und Menschenrechten, die gemeinsam vom ÖRK, der VEM und der EKD vom 9. bis 12. April 2022 in Wuppertal (Deutschland) und online.

Message of the conference "Christian Perspectives on Human Dignity and Human Rights", organised jointly by WCC, UEM and EKD, gathering 47 participants from 22 countries in Wuppertal (Germany) and online from 9 to 12 April 2022.

The reports now emerging from Bucha and other areas near Kyiv give much stronger indications of grave violations of international law. The World Council of Churches expresses its abhorrence at these reported atrocities, which must be fully investigated and documented so that those responsible can be held legally and personally accountable.

This booklet has been prepared to serve as a background document for the purpose of the webinar on “Past Massacres in Africa”. Its objective is to recognize and list some of the tragic massacres that took place during colonial times in Africa.