November 11, 2004

UN reform, economic justice, the crisis in Sudan and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty will be the focus of this year's World Council of Churches' (WCC) UN Advocacy Week, scheduled to take place from 14-19 November in New York City at the "Church Center" at the UN and the WCC's UN liaison office, with some seminars taking place in the United Nations building itself.

This will be the second time that WCC has coordinated a week for advocacy, information-sharing, and strategizing on a number of international affairs. Last year, the event brought together over fifty people from the wider ecumenical movement to share their expertise and concerns and learn from one another. Those participants agreed unanimously to return to New York City for another Advocacy Week in 2004. This year, key people responsible for international affairs and advocacy in member churches, specialized ministries and ecumenical organizations will come together for strategic discussions on topics like "The responsibility of the international community for peace in Sudan" and "The role of the churches in fulfilling the Millennium Development Goals." Participants in seminars and working sessions on many regions and issues of concern will address how to improve cooperation and prioritize efforts in the present international political environment.

Representatives from diplomatic missions, UN staff and NGOs will be invited to attend the week's four main public seminars in addition to the participants from the WCC's Commission of the Churches on International Affairs (CCIA).

"The CCIA/WCC witness on issues of war, peace, justice and human rights has been a source of information and guidance to Christians and churches around the world faced with complex dilemmas of international politics," says CCIA director Peter Weiderud. "We have deliberately chosen this week in New York to coincide with the meeting of the UN General Assembly. We hope that the event will be an expression of support for the United Nations' work on peace and conflict resolution."

World Council of Churches