Regional women’s consultation calls for transformative action to address gender-based violence and forced migration of women

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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22 November 2024

 

Bangkok, Thailand: The Asia regional consultation on ‘Gender-Based Violence and Forced Migration of Women: Towards Strengthening Gender Justice Advocacy’, which took place from 19 to 21 November 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand, came to a close with participants emphasising the need for collaborative, inclusive, and transformative action to address gender-based violence (GBV) and the forced migration of women.

A communique adopted at the closing session of the consultation outlined guidelines and actionable steps to promote gender justice in diverse contexts.

In the communique, participants urged women across communities to empower themselves and others by cultivating awareness of gender-based violence, advocating for survivors, and collaborating with organisations to address the root causes of violence and forced migration.

Discussions during the consultation on the importance of involving men in gender justice dialogues to dismantle harmful patriarchal structures and promote healthier, more inclusive communities were reflected in the communique.

The role of churches in combating gender-based violence was highlighted, with participants urging faith communities to raise awareness, challenge patriarchal perspectives, and support survivors with comprehensive care. 

Churches were encouraged to promote gender justice through theological education, policy development, and active participation in decision-making processes to ensure women's voices are heard at all levels.

Participants also urged CCA member churches and ecumenical organisations to use their platforms to raise awareness about the impact of GBV and forced migration on women, and to advocate for stronger policies that protect women’s rights. 

Emphasis was placed on the crucial need for collective commitment from all sectors of society, particularly faith-based communities, to combat gender-based violence and provide support for those affected by forced migration.

The three-day consultation, which was attended by 34 women from across Asia, culminated in a closing worship where participants affirmed their shared commitment to fostering a more equitable and gender-just society, pledging to work together towards lasting change and the empowerment of women.

The full text of the Communique can be found below: 

Asia Regional Consultation on ‘Gender-Based Violence and Forced Migration of Women: Towards Strengthening Gender Justice Advocacy’

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