wfn.org | Churches must Act to Protect Human Rights as State Role Diminishes

[PCUSA NEWS <pcusa.news@ecunet.org>]

1-March-2000 
00103 
 
    Churches must Act to Protect Human Rights 
    as State Role Diminishes 
 
    by Eunice Mafundikwa 
    Ecumenical News International 
 
ABOKOBI, Ghana - Globalization has diminished the role of the state to 
protect citizens' human rights, and churches and congregations should 
assume that responsibility, according to a representative of the World 
Council of Churches (WCC), Clement John. 
 
    Addressing the 11th general assembly of the Association of Christian 
Lay Centers in Africa (ACLCA) on Feb. 22, John said: "In the new 
configuration of unipolar order, churches are required to respond to new 
forces whose actions have direct and indirect implication for human rights, 
private armed groups, some based on ethnicity, others on religion, 
transnational corporations and financial institutions." 
 
    A total of 140 delegates from lay centers in 24 countries attended the 
assembly, which was held from Feb. 20-26.  ACLCA was founded in 1970. 
 
    John, who is a member of the Church of Pakistan, is a specialist on 
human rights in the WCC's international relations team.  He said the state 
was under attack from the intrusion of foreign capital as a result of 
globalization and from religious, ethnic and nationalist forces that had in 
the recent past become increasingly violent and destructive. 
 
    "These trends contributed to the erosion of power and authority of the 
state and have resulted in an increase of human rights violations," he 
said. 
 
    Government decisions in many parts of the world, particularly in 
developing countries, were determined by the requirements of the market. 
 
    "The need to provide stable and conducive environment for foreign 
capital often takes precedence over human rights and justice concerns in 
formulation of state policies," he said. 
 
    The demands imposed by the international financial institutions had 
forced many governments to reduce state subsidies on basic needs such as 
health care, housing, food and education. 
 
    "These measures in turn have impacted on the fundamental human rights 
of people both in the North as well as in the South," John said.  To 
strengthen capacities of churches in the fight to protect human rights, 
John said resources should be channeled towards training programs. 
 
    "Clear strategies have to be worked out to encourage movement-building, 
based on action, reflection and research for the human rights struggle at 
grass-roots level."  He added that closer co-operation among ecumenical 
partners was needed if effective ecumenical participation was to be 
achieved at international organizations such as the United Nations. 
 
    Interfaith dialogue, John said, had to be encouraged to protect human 
rights, particularly the rights of religious minorities. 
 
    "Churches will have to use interfaith dialogue as a means to promote 
peace, understanding, tolerance and respect for diversity of religion and 
belief." 
 
    John added that the battle for human rights could not be won through 
denunciations and passing resolutions of condemnation.  But the situation 
can change "with a strong and vibrant movement on the ground." 
 
    The lay centers' main objective is to empower lay Christians to find 
solutions to problems encountered by their communities.  Membership of 
ACLCA is varied, with some centers attached loosely to churches and related 
organizations, while others are more independent.  But all are ecumenical 
in their outlook and are involved in social justice issues. ACLCA is 
supported by the WCC. 
 
    On his return to Geneva, John told ENI that "looking at the situation 
from a human rights perspective," he saw four major issues faced by the lay 
centers across Africa: 
 
    * "The first problem is corruption - in government, in the military, in 
day-to-day life such as police harassment." 
 
    * "It seems that every country represented is facing a crisis situation 
as far as HIV-AIDS is concerned.  It has become a major theological and 
moral issue, as well as one of survival, because of the lack of drugs and 
facilities for treatment." 
 
    * "The proliferation of small arms, with unemployed youth and soldiers 
who have deserted engaging in banditry and lawlessness on the highways and 
in cities and towns. 
 
    * "Finally, the issue of the rise of militant, political Islam.  There 
are fears that what is happening in Nigeria could spread to other countries 
where there are Muslims and Christians." 

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