This workshop is a unique opportunity for experience sharing among peers from three different continents.

Participants will be able to share their best practices, identify factors of success and reflect on challenges and way forward. At the local level, they will share how refugees and communities are empowered and have been claiming their rights to local duty-bearers, resulting in concrete changes to enhance their well-being.

At the national level, they will share about the successes and challenges of building strong national civil society coalitions and make sure LWF’s priority issues on land rights, refugees’ rights, women rights and marginalized communities’ rights are well embedded in the national agenda. Innovative approaches like using technology for evidence-based advocacy, or fundraising for human rights will provide avenues to develop the approach further.

Blessed are the Peacemakers for they will be called the Children of God

According to the LWF strategy 2019-2024, it states: “Ensure the meaningful participation of youth in church and society: We will promote intergenerational engagement on topical issues for church and society.” Thus, young people are seen as active contributors to change and peace.

Additionally, the LWF seeks to “Strengthen local and global advocacy to promote human rights and protect the rights of marginalized communities: We will build on grassroots experience and knowledge to bring local human rights issues and realities to the global arena.” As part of this growing support for youth empowerment, LWF is committed to support young people to be equipped with the skills to positively engage in peacebuilding.

Peace Messengers

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Relevant Resources

LWF Peace Messengers Training Manuals 12 February 2018 The Peace Messengers Training is a peacebuilding and conflict resolution training program designed for youth from different communities and faith traditions.  Department for Mission and Development (until 2019)

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LWF News

LWF youth amplify ‘Peace Messengers’ role in churches and communities 1 June 2022 GENEVA, Switzerland LWF invites youth to apply for Peace Messengers training in June 1 April 2022 GENEVA, Switzerland Young peacemakers key to post-pandemic world 2 December 2020 GENEVA, Switzerland Empowering young people to train LWF Peace Messengers 12 February 2018 GENEVA, Switzerland

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From Our Blog

Called to be a daily peacemaker 24 December 2017 By Saleem Moussa Anfous How can religions wisely build peace in our societies? 17 December 2017 By Levi Joniel Inclusive peacebuilding means peace for all 10 December 2017 By Sem Lucas Loggen and Anna Tervahartiala “For every dream there is a color” 3 December 2017 By Angélica Oquendo Ramos

Side Event at Human Rights Council 43rd session: Palestinian children from Gaza facing obstacles to access health services

Children from Gaza face many challenges to access health services. AVH’s own Dr. Khadra Salami, as well as representatives of Médecins du Monde and Physicians for Human Rights Israel will discuss some of these challenges: frequent delays in obtaining travel permits, the separation of children from their parents when they go to East Jerusalem for treatment etc.

Perspectives and proposals for what can be done to improve the situation will also be presented.

• All children diagnosed with cancer should be treated without delay
• Once diagnosed with cancer the child should get a permit for an initial period of one year for active treatment and appropriate follow up, after which an assessment will be done on a case by case basis
• All children referred for medical treatment outside Gaza should be accompanied by at least one parent

LWF has been present in Palestine since 1948. Due to the absence of a peaceful solution to the long-standing conflict between Israel and Palestine, human rights are frequently violated and protection needs are high. For 70 years, LWF has been operating the Augusta Victoria Hospital, situated on the Mount of Olives in East Jerusalem. AVH is today a leading tertiary health provider in Palestine, specialized in oncology, nephrology and diabetes. AVH covers a gap in the Palestinian healthcare system, enabling Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza to access health services otherwise not available to them where they live. 30 % of the cancer patients in AVH come from Gaza. Each year, the hospital receives between 80 and 90 new cases of children with cancer under the age of 18.

EVENT: Open to anyone who holds or can access a UN badge

Location: Room XXII, Palais des Nations

LWF Jerusalem

Online event during the 44th Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council

During the 44th Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council the LWF is co-hosting a series of three webinars on human rights, ethics and climate change.

The COVID-19 crisis is affecting the whole of humanity. It poses a threat to human rights and calls for new forms of living together on this Earth for all members of the human family.

This webinar series will discuss climate change and human rights from an ethical and spiritual perspective, bringing together a diversity of voices.

This first panel presents grassroots partners, raises general concerns and proposes an ethical perspective on the present crises.

Speakers:

• Yves Lador, Earthjustice
• Tetet Nera Lauron, Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung
• Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Association of Peul Women and Autochthonous Peoples of Chad (AFPAT)
• YebSaño, Greenpeace Southeast Asia
• Sister Jayanti, Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University

Moderator:

• Valériane Bernard, Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University

Follow the event on Youtube Live

Questions on Youtube Live or at the email [email protected]

The COVID-19 crisis is affecting the whole of humanity. It poses a threat to human rights and calls for new forms of living together on this Earth with all members of the human family. This webinar series will discuss climate change and human rights from an ethical and spiritual perspective, bringing together a diversity of voices.

This second panel focuses on a selection of human rights issues and climate change from an ethical perspective.

Speakers:

• Athena Peralta, World Council of Churches
• Neil Mitchell OP, Promoter of Justice and Peace for the Dominican Vice Province of Southern Africa
• Sabine Minninger, Bread for the World
• Budi Tjahjono, Franciscans International
• Rev. Harper Fletcher, Greenfaith

Moderator:

• Isaiah Toroitich, The Lutheran World Federation

Follow the event on Youtube Live

Questions on Youtube Live or at the email [email protected]

Online event during the 44th Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council

The COVID-19 crisis is affecting the whole of humanity. It poses a threat to human rights and calls for new forms of living together on this Earth with all members of the human family. This webinar series will discuss climate change and human rights from an ethical and spiritual perspective, bringing together a diversity of voices.

This third panel presents voices from the Global South, focusing on persons who do not have the opportunity to participate in the Sessions of the Human Rights Council, marginalized and vulnerable groups. Questions of intergenerational justice are also raised.

Speakers:

• Marcelo Leites, World Student Christian Federation, LAC
• Salvador Nieto, Integration System for Central America (SICA)
• Igor Bastos, Global Catholic Climate Movement, Brazil
• Fernanda Zúñiga, Lutheran World Federation Youth representative
• Juan Chavez-Quispo, World Council of Churches Indigenous People’s Reference Group

Moderator:

• Elena Cedillo, The Lutheran World Federation

Follow the event on Youtube Live

Questions on Youtube Live or at the email [email protected]

A Public Webinar

This webinar aims to help equip participants on all levels with theological and ethical perspectives to engage society as they respond to the current economic crisis in a time of inequality, pandemic and climate change.

Speakers:

• Prof. Cynthia Moe-Lobeda (USA)
• Professor of social and theological ethics at the Pacific Lutheran University. She authored the book Resisting Structural Evil: Love as Ecological-Economic Vocation. She has lectured extensively on globalization, environmental racism, and faith-based resistance to systemic injustice.
• Rev. Dr Allan Aubrey Boesak (South Africa)
• Black Theologian, liberation and anti-apartheid activist. He is known for his book Farewell to Innocence, and for his significant work against racism in South Africa alongside Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela.

Organizers:

• Lutheran World Federation
• Council of World Mission
• World Communion of Reformed Churches
• World Council of Churches

Zoom registration

Join our 2nd Waking the Giant webinar focusing on SDG16 – Peace, justice and strong institutions

This online presentation and panel discussion will explore the ways in which churches in different countries are contributing to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goal 16, helping to bring peace, justice and the development of strong institutions.  

The Webinar agenda includes: 

• Overview of the SDG16 targets and indicators 
• Examples of the SDG16 implementation from our Waking the Giant programs in Colombia and the United States 
• Panel discussion on best practices and creative ways in which churches or church-related actors can contribute to this goal  
• Reflections on the Christian responsibility and commitment to justice and peacemaking 

For further details, send an email to [email protected] 

Registration deadline: 14 September 2020 

Zoom registration

Waking the Giant

Waking the Giant: SDG-16

Zacchaeus Tax and Jubilee Now! GEM School 2020

This webinar will explore how taxation, reparations and debt cancellation could contribute to shaping an Economy of Life in the current landscape, marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, widening socio-economic inequalities and a burgeoning climate emergency. The event will offer faith-rooted and gender-just perspectives, as well as share concrete proposals as part of the ecumenical #ZacTax and Jubilee campaigns.

Speakers: 

• Dr Manuel ‘Butch’ Montes is from the Philippines and lives in the USA. He works with the Society for International Development and is a member of the Ecumenical Panel on a New International Financial and Economic Architecture.
• Rev. Suzanne Membe Matale is from Zambia. She is a tax justice activist, a pastor, and a commissioner of the Independent Commission for the Reform of International Corporate Taxation.
• Rev Dr Iva Carruthers is from the USA. She is the General Secretary of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference.
• Rev James Bhagwan is from Fiji. He presently serves as the General Secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches.

Organizers:

• World Council of Churches
• World Communion of Reformed Churches
• Council for World Mission
• Lutheran World Federation

Register for the Zoom webinar

Registration deadline: 13 September 2020

Human Rights Engagement and How We Can Practically Use it in the field

Three Special Procedures Mandate Holders will participate in an engaging panel discussion: Special Rapporteur on rights of IDPs, Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, and Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons.

Find out more and register here!

Related Content

LWF Action for Justice

Due to COVID-19 related travel restrictions, the Global Protection Cluster (GPC) Forum 2020 is taking place virtually. The Forum is a series of unique events that bring together partners, service providers, academics, and donors; and is composed of a series of webinars and events spread across the last 6 months of the year to ensure strong and active participation. The Forum has technical and thematic sessions; while technical sessions are limited to the participation of coordinators across Protection Cluster and AoRs, the thematic sessions are open to all.