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The rights of the Papuan people will be the focus of WCC's involvement in the 61st session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR). The WCC delegation includes representatives from Papua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Nepal and Colombia. A written submission has been presented to the commission, and a study on the economic, social and cultural rights of the Papuan people, commissioned by German churches with the WCC and undertaken by Papuan academics and human rights defenders, will be released on Thursday, 31 March.

By Walt Wiltschek (*)

Photos available - see below

Photos available free of charge, see below

US Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry said in the recent televized debate with George Bush that he favours bilateral talks between America and North Korea. The president, on the other hand, said that he favours the Six-Party Talks on the peaceful reunification of a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula.

Church representatives from North and South Korea as well as from other parts of the world involved in the issue of Korean reunification have been invited to a 17-21 October consultation organized by the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) in Tozanzo, Japan.

Full text of the statements and photos available, see below.

Free photos available, see below.

World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia has recognized the dynamic growth of Christianity in Korea and Asia, and has appealed to Asian churches to take new responsibility in the global ecumenical movement. But he also warns against a "superficial Christianity" which does not respond to the spiritual yearning of people in the modern world.

By Martin Conway (*)

The vitality of the churches and the ecumenical movement in Korea and the region will be at the centre of attention during a 24-27 August 2004 World Council of Churches (WCC) executive committe meeting in Seoul. The meeting will be preceded by a visit by the WCC general secretary to the Korean churches from 18-20 August 2004, and by a special programme for WCC executive committee members from 21-23 August 2004.

Michael Stahl