The World Council of Churches advocates for children's well-being through a variety of projects at local, national and global levels. Churches have a unique position to influence society, from parents and school teachers to decision makers in public and private sectors.
WCC is actively supporting through global initiatives the engagement of churches worldwide in:
Child Protection:
Make sure that children feel safe in their churches, homes and communities and that children know whom to go to for help if they have a problem.
Support churches in their efforts to protect children in dangerous situations.
Help all children to have a birth certificate.
Child Participation: churches will try to make decisions together with children when such decisions have something to do with children`s lives. They also will plan activities for children together with children.
In church activities and planning for services and praying
In society
Climate Justice Initiatives with and for Children: churches organize activities with children to protect our planet.
The programme was developed with support from UNICEF and promotes engagement of churches to end violence against children, strengthening collaboration with secular partners.
In 2017, after an 18 month consultative process involving 235 experts, a consensus was reached among WCC member churches on the question “How can churches best use their influence to improve children’s lives”. An agreement was reached on three core commitments: 1. Child Protection, 2. Child Participation, 3. Inter-generational Climate Justice.
Open invitation to the WCC member churches and partners to address the needs of children as an integral part of the ecumenical commitment to the pilgrimage of justice and peace.
Adopt the ”Churches’ Commitments to Children” and collaborate with our member churches and partners in their implementation,
Join the Online Platform and share your experiences with other churches and partners,
Use and share existing tools and resources.
The WCC and UNICEF designed an innovative mapping platformwhere member churches can request support to implement specific commitments and offer their own expertise or resources to support other churches in the implementation of the commitments.
Open invitation to the WCC member churches and partners to address the needs of children as an integral part of the ecumenical commitment to the pilgrimage of justice and peace.
Resources and tools developed by churches, UNICEF or other WCC partner organizations, useful for the implementation of Churches’ Commitments to Children.
