CCA observes World AIDS Day 2024 with renewed call to ‘Take the Rights Path’

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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01 December 2024

Chiang Mai, Thailand: The Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) observed World AIDS Day on 1 December 2024 with a resolute reaffirmation of its commitment to upholding the rights and dignity of individuals living with or affected by HIV.

The theme of World’s AIDS Day-2024 ‘Take the Rights Path’, emphasises the importance of prioritising human rights and empowering vulnerable communities to lead the fight against AIDS.

In a statement released today, the CCA General Secretary, Dr Mathews George Chunakara, underscored the urgent need for a rights-based approach to achieve the global goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

“By taking the rights path, we affirm that protecting human dignity is fundamental to ending AIDS”, Dr Chunakara stated, urging churches and Christian communities across Asia to strengthen their efforts in addressing the epidemic.

The statement placed particular focus on the rights of children and teens living with or affected by HIV. Despite global progress, the alarming rise in new HIV cases in Asia highlights persistent gaps, with many young people still denied access to essential, age-appropriate services.

The CCA General Secretary called on its member councils and churches to strengthen initiatives, responses, and services for future generations. “Human dignity and rights are equal for all generations, and it is our responsibility to create an environment that supports and nurtures children and teens”, asserted Dr Mathews George Chunakara.

Dr Chunakara also called for the abolition of laws that infringe upon human rights and the enactment of policies that protect vulnerable communities. Reiterating the CCA’s commitment to fostering collaboration, he stressed the need to create safe spaces, ensure access to essential services, and build a more inclusive world.

“Taking the rights path means being the change we wish to see. Together, we must uphold our values and continue our efforts to empower the next generation to live with dignity and hope”, added Dr Chunakara.

This year’s observance of World AIDS Day by CCA coincided with the conclusion of the Regional Consultation on ‘Towards Enhancing Social Protection Measures for HIV Affected Children and Teens in Asia’, organised by CCA as part of its Action Together in Combating HIV and AIDS in Asia (ATCHAA) programme.

The three-day consultation, which brought together 46 participants from across Asia—including medical professionals, social activists, community health workers, members of PLHIV networks, and representatives from various faith-based organisations—concluded on 1 December with a special World AIDS Day worship service.

Participants explored strategies to scale up responses to HIV in children and teens, emphasised safeguarding their human rights as essential for sustainable development, and discussed how churches could develop effective, faith-based responses to the epidemic.

The full text of the CCA General Secretary’s Statement on World AIDS Day 2024 can be found here:

For photos of Day 3, please click here (photo gallery)