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The WCC delegation’s presence at the Commission on the Status of Women is being facilitated by the Ecumenical Office to the United Nations, which is the WCC’s focal point for advocacy initiatives at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
The delegation will participate in a High-Level Multi-Faith Reception hosted by Multi-Faith Advisory Council Gender Working Group, and will attend a variety of dialogues and fellowship events, as well as lead prayers and a Bible study.
In addition, the WCC Commission of the Churches on International Affairs submitted a Commission on the Status of Women statement that outlines the theological foundations of the WCC's commitment to gender equality.
“Justice, in the biblical sense, ensures that all people have equal access to resources, opportunities, and protections necessary for their flourishing,” the statement reads. “For the WCC, this includes advocating for women’s rights and working towards the elimination of all forms of gender-based discrimination and violence, as outlined in the Beijing Platform for Action.”
The statement also describes how economic empowerment is another key area of focus for the WCC’s work on gender equality. “The WCC’s economic empowerment initiatives are grounded in the belief that economic justice is essential for achieving gender equality,” the statement reads. “By providing women with the resources and opportunities needed to support themselves and their families, the WCC aims to break the cycle of poverty and empower women to contribute fully to their communities and societies.”
The WCC delegation includes:
Rev. Dr Kenneth Mtata, WCC programme director for Life, Justice, and Peace
Rev. Nicole Ashwood, WCC programme executive for Just Community of Women and Men
Rev. Alexa Dava, project officer for Human Dignity and Reproductive Health
Rebekka Read, advocacy assistant, Ecumenical Office to the UN
Bismark Asante, national president, National Union of Presbyterian Students Ghana, Presbyterian Church of Ghana
Thandi Soko de Jong, Malawian-Dutch activist-theologian, PhD candidate at the Protestant Theological University in the Netherlands, Protestant Church in the Netherlands
Rev. Dr Uzoaku Juliana Williams, minister and secretary of the Directorate of Ecumenism, Presbyterian Church of Nigeria
Olivia Baro, ecumenical youth enabler for empowerment and engagement, Pacific Conference of Churches
Belinda Nokuthula Crawford, Uniting Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa, staff member, University of Kwazulu-Natal
Learn more about the work of the Ecumenical Office to the United Nations
