CCA urges action against human trafficking for forced criminality on World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2026

Programme Review and Programme Direction

Two key deliberative sessions during the 15th CCA General Assembly are the Programme Review and Programme Direction sessions.

The Programme Review and Programme Direction sessions will both be conducted in three groups relating to the CCA’s programme areas, namely, (i) General Secretariat (GS), (ii) Mission in Unity and Contextual Theology (MU) and Ecumenical Leadership Formation and Spirituality (EF); and (iii) Building Peace and Moving Beyond Conflicts (BP) and Prophetic Diakonia (PD).

Assembly participants will have the option to join one of three groups for both the Programme Review and Programme Direction sessions. For the sake of coherence, the assigned group will remain the same for both sessions.

General Secretariat

The General Secretariat oversees the coordination of programmatic, administrative, and financial activities of the organization. The GS comprises various departments such as church and ecumenical relations, relations with ecumenical partners, finance, administration, and communications, which provide crucial support and services for the implementation of programs and contribute to the overall functioning of the CCA.

Programmes: Relations with member churches and councils, ecumenical partners; advocacy at the United Nations; ecumenical responses to emerging issues in solidarity; income development and finance; and communications.

Mission in Unity and Contextual Theology (MU) and Ecumenical Leadership Formation and Spirituality (EF)

Under the MU programme area, the CCA accompanies Asian churches to strengthen their mission and witness in multi-religious contexts, revitalise and nurture church unity and the Asian ecumenical movement, and develop contextual theological foundations.

Programmes: Asian Movement for Christian Unity (AMCU); Congress of Asian Theologians (CATS); Asian women doing theology in the context of wider ecumenism; contextualisation of theology in Asia and ecumenical theological education.

The EF programme area focuses on nurturing and developing ecumenical leaders in Asia. The programme aims to enhance spiritual formation and theological understanding, enabling people to actively engage in ecumenical dialogue and collaboration.

Programmes: Ecumenical Enablers’ Training in Asia (EETA); Asian Ecumenical Institute (AEI); Youth and Women Leadership Development; Ecumenical Spirituality and Nurturing of Contextual Liturgical Traditions; Asia Sunday

Building Peace and Moving Beyond Conflicts (BP) and Prophetic Diakonia and Advocacy (PD)

The BP programme area is dedicated to promoting peace, justice, and reconciliation in Asia’s diverse contexts. Through training, advocacy, and dialogue, the programme addresses the root causes of conflicts, empowers communities, and fosters sustainable peacebuilding initiatives.

Programmes: Pastoral Solidarity Visits; Churches in Action for Moving Beyond Conflict and Resolution; Young Ambassadors of Peace in Asia (YAPA); Ecumenical Women’s Action Against Violence (EWAAV); Eco-Justice for Sustainable Peace in the Oikos.

The PD programme area focuses on promoting justice, human rights, and social transformation in Asia. Through advocacy, capacity-building, and raising awareness, the programme addresses systemic injustice, empowers marginalised communities, and advocates for prophetic actions and meaningful change.

Programmes: Human Rights advocacy; Migration, Statelessness, and Trafficking in Persons; Asian Ecumenical Disability Advocacy Network; Asian Advocacy Network on the Dignity and Rights of Children (AANDRoC); Ecumenical Solidarity Accompaniment and Diakonia in Asia (ESADA); Health and Healing; Good Governance; Action Together to Combat HIV and AIDS in Asia (ATCHAA).

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30 July 2026

Chiang Mai, Thailand: Reflecting on the theme of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2026, “Trapped Behind the Scam”, the General Secretary of the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA), Rev. Jung Eun Grace Moon, expressed deep concern over the escalating crisis of human trafficking for forced criminality and urged CCA member churches and councils to stand alongside those whose dignity and rights have been violated through trafficking and exploitation.

In a statement released on 30 July 2026, Rev. Moon drew attention to the human suffering hidden behind cyber-enabled fraud operations, through which thousands are lured by false promises of employment, trafficked across borders, and forced to carry out cyber fraud under conditions of coercion, violence, and abuse.

She stressed that behind the digital façade of online scams lies a reality of grave human rights violations including forced labour, debt bondage, torture, sexual abuse and arbitrary detention, while those who escape often carry deep physical, emotional, and psychological scars.

“In the face of these alarming realities, silence is no longer an option. CCA calls on its member churches and member councils to uphold their prophetic witness by standing alongside those whose dignity and rights have been violated through trafficking and exploitation. Churches in Asia are called to challenge the systems and structures that enable exploitation, raise awareness, advocate for justice, and accompany survivors on their journey towards healing and restoration,” Rev. Moon stated.

The CCA General Secretary also called upon governments, law enforcement agencies, judicial authorities, regional institutions, civil society organisations, and technology companies to strengthen cooperation in dismantling trafficking networks, protecting victims, safeguarding vulnerable communities, and ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable.

This call builds on CCA’s continued efforts in addressing trafficking and exploitation in Asia. An international consultation on “Combatting Forced Migration, Human Trafficking, and Cybercrimes in Asia” organised by CCA in August 2025 highlighted the growing threat of trafficking for forced criminality and the vital role of churches and faith-based organisations in responding to this crisis. CCA continues to encourage churches across Asia to uphold their prophetic witness by defending the dignity and rights of all those affected by the scourge of human trafficking and exploitation.

The full text of the CCA Statement on World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2026 can be found here.

The Communique from the International Consultation on “Combatting Forced Migration, Human Trafficking, and Cybercrimes in Asia” can be found here.