An educational institution in southern Africa is hosting a major theological consultation on HIV prevention called by the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance (EAA), based in Geneva. Participants are expected from across the globe.

Organisers of events to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Sunday 27 January 2008 say that a large number of civic and faith groups across Europe are due to take part, including British Muslims.

Interfaith leaders from Latin America and the Caribbean have met with officials from three major global multilateral financial bodies to discuss ways of advancing the struggle for the MDGs and against poverty and inequality.

A joint campaign to eliminate genocide around the world has been initiated by leading civic, academic and religious figures in a conference room at the Interchurch Center near the campus of Columbia University in New York, USA.

Leaders from the World Council of Churches and its Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and independent member churches are lobbying the United Nations and member states as part of their concerted advocacy efforts for Africa and other causes.

Archbishop Celestino Maggiore, the Vatican's permanent observer to the United Nations, has said, in a UN debate on development in New York,that global sustainability should be a priority for the nations of the world.

The United Nations and the World Council of Churches (WCC) have reaffirmed their commitment to collaborate at a meeting between the general secretaries of both organizations held on 29 October 207 at the UN headquarters in New York.

Archbishop Silvano M. Tomasi, the Vatican's permanent observer to the Office of the United Nations and Specialized Institutions in Geneva, spoke of the need for compassionate support of refugees during the 58th session the UN High Commission for Refugees executive last week.

Burma campaigners, including a leading group in the UK, say that people should not be deceived by media reports that there has been a breakthrough in Burma because Senior General Than Shwe has agreed to talks. There has been no breakthrough, they say.

A five-year campaign by human rights campaigners, including the Franciscan religious order, has influenced the Human Rights Council of the United Nations to has decide to appoint a Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery.