A workshop was organized by the MECC Justice, Peace & Human Rights (JPHR), jointly with the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME) from February 9-2, 2006, in Cairo, Egypt, for around fifty students in theology from all countries of the Middle East, to discuss the value of the human being as a focal point in the protection of rights.
This activity is part of the JPHR efforts in spreading the culture of human rights in the region and targets a wide range of persons and groups, more specifically students in theology, both clergy and lay, to enable them address human rights challenges on a longer term. Presentations and discussions during the workshop focused on deepening the understanding of human rights in theological studies and on issues of consumerism, slavery, citizenship and equality, discrimination in general and against women and the oppressed, in particular.
The workshop came up with a mechanism of work to spread the culture of citizenship and to promote human rights education in the region, as well as a follow up process, setting the date for the second phase of the activity.
In her testimony on the workshop, a student said ³we need to be one, united, as we are the Body of Christ, to help every human being enjoy his/her rights, irrespective of religion, country or political beliefs. Such a meeting is very important as it showed us the different types of abuses of human rights and as a result, we were able to come out with ways and means of struggling for these rights and not only talk about them². For more information kindly contact Ms. Alexa Abi Habib at mecccypr@spidernet.net.cy <mailto:mecccypr@spidernet.net.cy
Middle East Council of Churches Office of International Ecumenical Relations P.O. Box 5376, Beirut, Lebanon
Guirgis Ibrahim Saleh, General Secretary
mecc@cyberia.net.lb or guirgissaleh@cyberia.net.lb
+961-1-353-938 http://www.mec-churches.org/