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As people of faith representing diverse traditions, united in our common belief in the sanctity of life and the pursuit of justice, peace, and human dignity, we commend the States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) for your historic commitment and leadership in working toward a world without nuclear weapons. Each signature and ratification affirming this Treaty is an act of courage and beacon of hope, and we applaud you.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) expresses the international ecumenical movement’s solidarity with the Roman Catholic Church in Mexico mourning the death of the priest and human rights defender, Marcelo Pérez. 

Reinforcing the traditional role of faith communities in offering sanctuary and, indeed hospitality to refugees, 90 faith-based leaders today committed to offering their continued and additional support to refugees, including children, on their journey to safety, including in reception and admission, meeting protection or service delivery needs and supporting communities to find solutions such as private sponsorship or scholarship programmes.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me

to bring good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives

and recovery of sight to the blind,

to let the oppressed go free,

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.

(Luke 4:18-19)

The current global context is marked by escalating conflicts, divisions, inequalities, resurgent racism, xenophobic attacks on migrants, antisemitism, violations of the rights of women and other forms of discrimination, threats against human rights defenders, as well as authoritarianism, populist nationalism, and religious and other forms of extremism, that threaten grave peril for the physical security and human dignity and rights of diverse communities and individuals around the world.

Message of the conference "Christian Perspectives on Human Dignity and Human Rights", organised jointly by WCC, UEM and EKD, gathering 47 participants from 22 countries in Wuppertal (Germany) and online from 9 to 12 April 2022.

The reports now emerging from Bucha and other areas near Kyiv give much stronger indications of grave violations of international law. The World Council of Churches expresses its abhorrence at these reported atrocities, which must be fully investigated and documented so that those responsible can be held legally and personally accountable.

World Council of Churches (WCC) interim general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca offered reflections on the newest encyclical of Pope Francis, Fratelli tutti. Subtitled “On fraternity and social friendship,” the document is the Pope’s third encyclical.

The World Council of Churches has published “Freedom of Religion or Belief: A guide to biblical insights or Belief,” as part of online training offered through the Freedom of Religion or Belief Learning Platform. The guide offers reflections and focus questions on how the Bible speaks of human rights, human dignity, universalism and other subjects. It also explores the Bible and the concept of justice, as well as the importance of the freedom to have, choose, change, or leave a religion.

Statement from the Global Ecumenical Conference on Justice for Dalits, March 21-24, 2009, Bangkok, Thailand