wfn.org | WCC Special Fund to Combat Racism grants

["Sheila Mesa" <smm@wcc-coe.org>]

World Council of Churches
Press Release, PR-01-46
For Immediate Use
10 December 2001

WCC Special Fund to Combat Racism grants 

To mark Human Rights Day on Monday 10 December, the World
Council of Churches (WCC) has announced grants totalling US$
70,000 from its Special Fund to Combat Racism to ten anti-racism
projects around the world.   

The grants recognize three categories of particular concern:
anti-racism work, support to women suffering under racism, and
the situation of Indigenous Peoples. Special Fund grants over the
past 30 years have gone to groups in 50 countries and have
totalled over US$12 million.  

The complete list of recipients of this year's grants is:

1. Action for World Development, AUSTRALIA, US$ 7,000
This Aboriginal People's organization raises awareness on racism
and works for the rights of the Indigenous Peoples of Australia.
It also promotes ecumenical action for justice.  

2. Koori Anglican Fellowship, AUSTRALIA, US$ 7,000
The Fellowship addresses past and present issues of denial,
destruction and denigration of incarcerated Indigenous women, as
well as reclaiming ancestral values.  

3. Grupo de Trabalho Missionario Evangelico, (GTME), BRAZIL, US$
7,000
This organization of Indigenous Peoples accompanies local
initiatives in the city of Cuiaba in the struggle for land rights
and spiritual awareness.  

4. Movimento Afrodescendente do Para, (MOCAMBO), BRAZIL, US$
7,000
This African-descendant people's organization addresses cases of
racially-motivated violence. The situation of African descendants
in relation to the criminal justice system is a major area of
their work.  

5. United Presbyterian Church, BRAZIL, US$ 7,000
Through its social project to combat racism, the church
addresses issues of race and gender, and racism and violence,
among others.  

6. The Ketlenan National Association (KETNA), COLOMBIA, US$
7,000
KETNA defends the rights of self-determination, to land and
territory of the Indigenous Peoples of St Andrew.  

7. Movimiento de Mujeres Dominico Haitianas (MUDHA), DOMINICAN
REPUBLIC,
US$ 7,000
MUDHA, a women's organization, advocates for the rights of
Haitians in the Dominican Republic through awareness-raising
against racism and xenophobia.  

8. Central European Romani Educational Opportunities Centre
(CEREOC), SLOVAK REPUBLIC, US$ 7,000
CEREOC, a Romani non-governmental organization, through the
Romani Legal Defence project, is addressing the present alarming
human rights situation of the Roma People.  

9. Pan African Women's Organization, SCOTLAND, US$ 7,000
Addressing racism suffered by the community of African origin or
descent, this organization works on empowering women and youth.
Awareness-raising on racism, participation in decision and
policy-making processes are other major areas of its work.  

10. Himalayan Heritage Foundation, NEPAL, US$ 7,000
The foundation promotes the rights of Himalayan people through
community organizing, cultural survival, studies and training on
traditional Tibetan languages and knowledge.  

For further information, please contact Media Relations Office, 
tel.: (+41.22) 791.64.21
**********
The World Council of Churches (WCC) is a fellowship of churches,
now 342, in more than 100 countries in all continents from
virtually all Christian traditions. The Roman Catholic Church is
not a member church but works cooperatively with the WCC. The
highest governing body is the assembly, which meets approximately
every seven years. The WCC was formally inaugurated in 1948 in
Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Its staff is headed by general
secretary Konrad Raiser from the Evangelical Church in Germany.

World Council of Churches
Media Relations Office
Tel: (41 22) 791 6153 / 791 6421
Fax: (41 22) 798 1346
E-mail: ka@wcc-coe.org 
Web: www.wcc-coe.org 

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