On April 17, 2007 the Justice, Peace & Human Rights (JPHR) program held a consultation at the Headquarters of the Congregation of the Maronite Lebanese Missionaries in Jounieh, aiming at reviewing the development of th e project ³the Patterns of the Commitment of the Church and Religious Associations to Human Rights Issues: Action oriented strategies for monitoring and advocacy². Two human rights activists contributed in helping to move the project forward, focusing on the structure of the project, refined into two main components:
1- Spreading knowledge, raising awareness and advocacy
2- Formation of children and youth through activities and training sessions .
A major recommendation issued by the meeting stressed on the importance of forming a steering committee composed of 5-7 persons, mainly activists and specialized representatives of NGOs, to monitor the implementation of the project. The role of this committee would include the discussion of reports on the human rights¹ situation in the region, the follow up on important events, and the discussion of ways and means to provide appropriate funding for the continuation of the project.
Follow-up meetings were held to establish a website that provides and enables churches and church-related organizations with relevant information and links regarding the implementation and violation of human rights in the Arab world. For more information, kindly contact Ms. Alexa Abi Habib at mecccypr@spidernet.com.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/