CCA reaffirms commitment to upholding children’s rights on World Children’s Day 2024

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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20 November 2024

 

Chiang Mai, Thailand: On World Children’s Day, Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) has reaffirmed its dedication to advocating for the rights, and well-being of children across Asia.

Observed annually on 20 November, this day serves as a call to amplify children’s voices and reaffirm global commitments outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).

In a statement released today, CCA General Secretary Dr Mathews George Chunakara highlighted the challenges faced by millions of children in Asia, including inadequate education and healthcare, exploitation, forced labour, trafficking, and discrimination, particularly in conflict and emergency settings.

Underscoring the paramount role of the Church in affirming the dignity and rights of children, the CCA General Secretary stated, “The Church must uphold their rights, listening with patience, compassion, and respect, advocating for a world that protects and nurtures children. We believe that churches in Asia can make a transformative impact by advocating for accessible education and healthcare, implementing child protection policies, fostering inclusive, violence-free communities, and creating platforms where children’s voices are valued and taken seriously”.

Dr Mathews George Chunakara urged CCA member churches and councils to create safe spaces for children, foster inclusive communities, and advocate for accessible education and healthcare. “Through partnerships with families, communities, and organisations, the Church can ensure that children are heard, their dignity upheld, and their potential realized”, he added.

To strengthen its advocacy for the well-being of children, the CCA, through its Action Together in Combating HIV and AIDS in Asia (ATCHAA) programme, will hold a consultation from 28 November to 1 December 2024 to address HIV in children and teens in Asia. The consultation will focus on enhancing church responses to the issue and bring together about 40 participants, including church workers, health professionals, PLHIV networks, social activists, and NGO representatives working in the field of HIV and AIDS.

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