A Global Ecumenical Conference on Justice for Dalits is taking place from 21 to 24 March 2009 in Bangkok, Thailand, at the joint initiative of the World Council and the Lutheran World Federation.

Charity World Vision launches its 24 hour famine today, aimed at raising funds to help children and others in the commercial sex trade.

For most of Indian history, those Hindus who have perpetrated violence against women have got away with it, says Wendy Doniger. It's time for this to stop.

Christians in India have been muted in Christmas festivity this year, following violence in Orissa, Karnataka and the tragic Mumbai attacks.

The carnage in Mumbai in which gunmen have killed over a hundred people, injured many more and taken hostages, has shocked the world. It has thrown a spotlight on religious extremism of various kinds, writes Savi Hensman.

A series of violent attacks has struck Mumbai, India’s commercial capital, killing many people. Hostages are being held and the situation beyond the tragic headlines is only just coming in to view, Ekklesia is learning.

Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh observed that "Christianity is part of our national heritage" when general secretary of the World Council of Churches Dr Samuel Kobia called on him on at his residence in New Delhi.

The World Council of Churches' (WCC) general secretary, the Rev Dr Samuel Kobia has said that "one of the greatest problems facing the world today is religious extremism" - and that all faiths must be fully engaged in tackling it.

The executive committee of the World Council of Churches has used the opportunity of its latest gathering in Switzerland to maintain its active concern with many of the world's trouble spot and most pressing humanitarian issues.

Anabaptists in India say they have been horrified that Christians have had to the jungle with nothing but the clothes on their backs, fearing for their lives because of communal violence in a country once known for religious tolerance.