Asia regional consultation focusing on children and teens affected by HIV set to begin

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).

No preference updated.

27 November 2024

Chiang Mai, Thailand: The regional consultation focusing on ‘Towards Enhancing Social Protection Measures for HIV Affected Children and Teens in Asia,’ organised by the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA), is scheduled to take place from 29 November to 1 December 2024. It will be held at the CCA headquarters at Payap University in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

The consultation, organised as part of CCA’s Action Together in Combatting HIV and AIDS in Asia (ATCHAA) initiative, will bring together 35 participants from across Asia, including medical professionals, social activists, community health workers, members of PLHIV networks, and specially invited guests from various faith-based organisations.

The three-day consultation will feature presentations, theological reflections, and discussions, along with addresses on topics such as 'Overcoming Stigma for Children Living with HIV', 'Preventing HIV among Teens and Securing the Future', and 'Challenges and Best Practices in HIV Treatment Access and Adherence for Children and Teens'. These sessions aim to address the continuing disparities in access to HIV services and to improve the overall effectiveness of HIV strategies for children infected and affected by HIV.

Outlining the programme of the consultation, Dr Ronald Lalthanmawia, ATCHAA Programme Coordinator, noted, "In Asia, children affected by HIV are a neglected group as the Asian Church's response to them is minimal. This consultation will provide a much-needed common space for churches and other faith-based organisations to come together and discuss strategies for effectively responding to children and teens affected by HIV”.

Outside of Africa, the Asia-Pacific region accounts for the highest number of people living with HIV, with an estimated 6.7 million people affected.

Despite ongoing efforts to combat HIV and support those affected, children remain an overlooked group due to low prioritisation and limited access to resources. Over 60% of all HIV-positive children remain untreated, making them the least likely age group to receive HIV treatment.

The ATCHAA regional consultation is expected to assist churches in developing an effective faith-based response to HIV in children, providing a platform for sharing experiences and insights in an enabling environment.