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H.E. Archbishop Dr Vicken Aykazian is vice-moderator of the World Council of Churches central committee, Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC

H.E. Archbishop Dr Vicken Aykazian stands up for Thursdays in Black: “Just go on, do—and we can do it together”

Thursdays in Black ambassadors play a vital role in increasing the impact of our collective call for a world without rape and violence. H.E. Archbishop Dr Vicken Aykazian is vice-moderator of the World Council of Churches central committee.

23 November 2023

Beginning soon: 16 Days against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

Mark your calendar now for events during the campaign 16 Days Against Gender-Based Violence, which will begin 25 November, International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and end 10 December, Human Rights Day.

21 November 2023

WCC leaders step up as Thursdays in Black ambassadors

Leaders of the World Council of Churches (WCC), by becoming Thursdays in Black ambassadors, are acting and speaking out for a world free from rape and violence.

26 October 2023

Rev. Merlyn Hyde Riley: “Gender-based violence denies human dignity”

Thursdays in Black ambassadors play a vital role in increasing the impact of our collective call for a world without rape and violence. Rev. Merlyn Hyde Riley is general secretary of the Jamaica Baptist Union, and vice moderator of the WCC central committee.

19 October 2023

WCC general secretary: with Thursdays in Black, "a simple step can be transformational”

Thursdays in Black ambassadors play a vital role in increasing the impact of our collective call for a world without rape and violence. Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay is general secretary of the World Council of Churches.

05 October 2023

Human rights are central to public health, International AIDS Society panel finds

A panel discussion during the International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science in Brisbane, Australia, explored “Leadership, communication, and science: A three-dimensional pandemic response?” The panel was part of the closing ceremony held 26 July.

31 July 2023

Mariela Alejandra Pereyra speaks on behalf of the Latin America region

Taking action for a flourishing land: Latin American voices prioritize climate justice, Indigenous rights, gender equality

Seeking to join efforts with those committed to ensure a just and sustainable future for the continent, representatives from World Council of Churches (WCC) member churches in Latin America gathered at the WCC central committee in June to identify common concerns.

04 July 2023

What a woman!

These words described the dreams of the kind of woman a young woman aspires to be, illustrated by moving images of women’s involvement in the history of the ecumenical movement. This performance poem was just part of an inspiring meeting of the women of the ecumenical movement that were present at the World Council of Churches (WCC) central committee meeting on 22 June.

23 June 2023

Patrick Watt, chief executive officer for Christian Aid.

Thursdays in Black ambassador Patrick Watt: “We aim to bring about wider societal change”

The World Council of Churches welcomes new Thursdays in Black ambassadors!

Our ongoing series of interviews with Thursdays in Black ambassadors highlights those who are playing a vital role in increasing the impact of our collective call for a world without rape and violence. Patrick Watt is chief executive officer for Christian Aid.

15 June 2023

Blog post

From exhaustion to excitement—to hope

A reflection originally shared at the "Working Together" meeting between the World Council of Churches and specialized ministries, convened 3-4 May in Bossey, Switzerland.

15 May 2023

Marie Anne Sliwinski

Survivors of kidnappings in Nigeria share stories of trauma, resilience, and hope

“They came to our house. We refused to open the door so they broke in though the window.”

That’s how Damaris Blessing Tiswan, a finance student at Kaduna Polytechnic, began describing her ordeal of being kidnapped with her four siblings at midnight.

28 April 2023

Blog post

Living with HIV, Living with Hope

In 1990 at the age of 22, I was diagnosed with HIV. Shortly thereafter, I also discovered that I was pregnant. My whole adult life has been about learning to live well with this virus.

23 March 2023

Toni (Antoinette) Zimmermann

Prof. Jace Pillay reflects on importance of churches in upholding children’s rights

Prof. Jace Pillay, South African research chair for Education and Care in Childhood at the University of Johannesburg, reflected on the importance of churches in ensuring the rights of children.

Twin brother of World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay, Jace Pillay noted that South Africa has very good policies with regard to children’s rights —but in many areas those policies exist only on paper, as they are not implemented.

14 March 2023

Event

Minawao camp for Nigerian refugees, May 2019

Webinar: Resiliency of Rural Indigenous Nigerian Girls & Women: Surviving Kidnapping & Gender-Based Violence

27 April 2023

Hybrid- Online & in New York City

WCC to participate in Commission on the Status of Women

The 67th Commission on the Status of Women will take place on 6-17 March in New York City and online. The World Council of Churches (WCC) is involved in online side events scheduled for 9, 14, and 16 March.

02 March 2023

On Valentine’s Day, WCC shares message “Love Heals, Not Hurts”

As Valentine’s Day approaches, the World Council of Churches (WCC) is sending a message about healthy relationships: “Love Heals, Not Hurts.” The campaign, now in its fifth year, is part of the WCC Thursdays in Black global movement for a world free from rape and violence.

09 February 2023

capacity building programme of JEL Church, India

Two-day event in India focuses on water, sanitation, and hygiene

A two-day capacity building in India held at the Jeypore Evangelical Lutheran Church (JELC) focused on water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). Held 4-5 January, the event drew about 400 pastors and lay people.

09 January 2023

Looking back with both gratitude and lamentation, Thursdays in Black ambassadors urge continuation of work

As this season of World Council of Churches (WCC) Thursdays in Black ambassadors draws to a close, they reflected on the positive changes they were able to make, as well as the pain of knowing how many women in the world are still suffering from gender-based violence.

07 December 2022