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The "savage murders" of three Christians in Malatya, Turkey, on 18 April are "the latest tragedy" in a series of "killings and other threats directed at members and leaders of religious minorities" in the country that are of "serious concern" and cause "deep revulsion" and "dismay", the World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia has told Turkish authorities.

Writing to Mrs Adelheid Kistner on 5 December, WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia characterized her husband, South African pastor Dr Wolfram Kistner, as "a tireless champion for justice, equality and human dignity for all," and "one of the clearest voices, articulating biblically and theologically why we as Christians had to support the struggle against apartheid".

The global fund for tackling HIV and AIDS should be distributed through churches because they have the best access to the populations affected.

International church and ecumenical organizations have welcomed the adoption of a new International Convention on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, and a Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, both of which were agreed at the inaugural session of the UN Human Rights Council which concluded in Geneva on 30 June 2006.

Churches need to build youth participation so that young people can

Deep concern about "the increasing use of detention to restrict and deter cross-border movement by asylum seekers and other migrants" prompted the World Council of Churches' (WCC) Global Ecumenical Network on Uprooted Peoples (GEN) to circulate a statement on this issue at a meeting in Geneva this week of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees' (UNHCR) Executive Committee.

In the lead-up to the 14-16 September 2005 United Nations World Summit, the World Council of Churches (WCC) has shared its views on a planned reform of the international body with the governments of the UK and China - the two nations which currently preside, respectively, over the G8, and the G77.

Reacting to the verdict of a Libyan court which has condemned to death six foreign health workers, World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia has asked H.E. Mu'ammar al-Gaddafi, Leader of the Revolution, to spare their lives on humanitarian grounds.

> WCC Central Committee meeting

At least 19 faith-based organizations are among the 160 initial signers of a new Code of Good Practice for NGOs Responding to HIV/AIDS.

By Hanna Smidt(*)

<span style="font-weight: bold; "» Where is the ecumenical movement going in the 21st century?

"When we recognize that our lives are gracious gifts of God, it becomes our mission in this world to care for life and the dignity of all," said the World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia in a public lecture given during his visit to Fiji last week.

Free multimedia coverage of the 15th International Aids Conference in Bangkok available at

Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary, commented today on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture being commemorated tomorrow, Saturday, 26 June 2004:

By Neil Cavers*

Cf. WCC Press Release, PR-04-02, of 12 February 2004

Cf. WCC Upcoming events, January 2004

Cf WCC Upcoming Events of December 2003

Cf. WCC Press Update PU-03-44 of 14 November 2003