Middle East churches to monitor regional human rights
-31/10/06
The Middle East Counci
Middle East churches to monitor regional human rights
-31/10/06
The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and Catholic leaders in the region are discussing the possible formation of a series of forums to monitor the human rights situation in the Middle East, starting in the Lebanon.
On the second day of the Catholic Patriarchsí Conference, the MECC General Secretary and Justice, Peace and Human Rights Programme Coordinator participated in a special session dedicated to discuss the development of a project proposal on these lines, prepared in response to a recommendation issued by the previous meeting of the Patriarchsí Assembly, held in Amman, Jordan.
Mr Guirguis Saleh stressed the importance of the idea in relation to the plight of religious and ethnic minorities. The way forward, he reported, is to establish a forum in Lebanon, composed of key scholars and thinkers. Its aim would be to identify human rights concerns that need to be monitored, analyzed and reported to the churches and partners for appropriate advocacy action.
A spokesperson explained: ìThis forum could constitute a model for similar initiatives [across] the Middle East region. Great interest was expressed by the meeting for the proposal which will be studied for decision and implementation.î
In a further development, a one-day workshop was held on 28 October 2006, at the National Evangelical Church of Beirut, on Prevention of Conflicts and Stereotyping. After plenary presentations, there were working sessions focusing on values for strong and solid citizenship, and for peaceful means to strengthen democracy.
Lebanon has been devastated by the recent Israeli invasion, following a continuing conflict with Hezbollah.
Around 40 participants representing different churches and civil society organizations attended the seminar. The workshop prepared for a series of similar events that will take place successively in each Lebanese district.
The Middle East Council of Churches is a fellowship of historic and newer churches relating itself to the mainstream of the modern ecumenical movement, which also gave birth to the World Council of Churches and a range of other regional ecumenical bodies in the middle of the twentieth century.
The Church was born in the Middle East, and here the early controversies in the Christian movement played themselves out, alongside growth and development. The people and churches which form the MECC are the direct heirs of all of this, but are often overlooked in discussions about the globally strategic area.
Middle East churches to monitor regional human rights
-31/10/06
The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and Catholic leaders in the region are discussing the possible formation of a series of forums to monitor the human rights situation in the Middle East, starting in the Lebanon.
On the second day of the Catholic Patriarchsí Conference, the MECC General Secretary and Justice, Peace and Human Rights Programme Coordinator participated in a special session dedicated to discuss the development of a project proposal on these lines, prepared in response to a recommendation issued by the previous meeting of the Patriarchsí Assembly, held in Amman, Jordan.
Mr Guirguis Saleh stressed the importance of the idea in relation to the plight of religious and ethnic minorities. The way forward, he reported, is to establish a forum in Lebanon, composed of key scholars and thinkers. Its aim would be to identify human rights concerns that need to be monitored, analyzed and reported to the churches and partners for appropriate advocacy action.
A spokesperson explained: ìThis forum could constitute a model for similar initiatives [across] the Middle East region. Great interest was expressed by the meeting for the proposal which will be studied for decision and implementation.î
In a further development, a one-day workshop was held on 28 October 2006, at the National Evangelical Church of Beirut, on Prevention of Conflicts and Stereotyping. After plenary presentations, there were working sessions focusing on values for strong and solid citizenship, and for peaceful means to strengthen democracy.
Lebanon has been devastated by the recent Israeli invasion, following a continuing conflict with Hezbollah.
Around 40 participants representing different churches and civil society organizations attended the seminar. The workshop prepared for a series of similar events that will take place successively in each Lebanese district.
The Middle East Council of Churches is a fellowship of historic and newer churches relating itself to the mainstream of the modern ecumenical movement, which also gave birth to the World Council of Churches and a range of other regional ecumenical bodies in the middle of the twentieth century.
The Church was born in the Middle East, and here the early controversies in the Christian movement played themselves out, alongside growth and development. The people and churches which form the MECC are the direct heirs of all of this, but are often overlooked in discussions about the globally strategic area.