On the occasion of the World Water Day 2020, and with deep concern over the gravity of the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences on people in all regions of the world, especially the poor, the World Council of Churches and ACT Alliance reaffirm the responsibility of churches and faith-based organisations to ensure that people have access to clean, affordable, sufficient water to meet their physical and domestic needs, including that of hand-washing.

On 22 March we observe World Water Day.  Since 1993, the UN has declared this day to focus on the importance of the freshwater resources which are fast depleting. This year also marks the 10^th anniversary of the UN recognition of the human right to water and sanitation.

The new coronavirus has reached over 180 countries with over 200,000 cases of infection and over 10,000 deaths. COVID-19 has the potential to infect at least half of the world’s population with an unthinkable number of deaths if strictest measures are not put in place.

As whole countries have been locked down, the most important advice for prevention of infection is a simple “hand-washing” with soap and water. However, it is not possible for everyone in the world to wash their hands several times a day simply because they do not have access to adequate safe and clean water for drinking, let alone for hand washing. People in refugee camps, for instance, are at greater risk due to lack of sufficient water.

Hand-washing practices to promote good hygiene is the ‘silver bullet’ to prevent an infection from spreading, along with physical distancing from one another. Until the world finds a vaccine for COVID-19, hand-washing with soap and water is our best preventative measure.

“Water is the source of health and well-being and requires responsible action from us human beings, as partners and priests of Creation (Rom 8:19 ff., Rev 22). As churches, we are called to participate in the mission of God to bring about a new creation where life in abundance is assured to all (John 10:10; Amos 5:24). It is therefore right to speak out and to act when the life-giving water is pervasively and systematically under threat.” ‘Statement on Water for Life’ of 9^th Assembly of World Council of Churches, Porto Alegre, 2006

WCC and ACT Alliance recognize and affirm the World Health Organization’s guidelines to prevent infection and combat the pandemic and call upon their members around the world to give highest priority to “doing whatever we can do to protect life” and to follow strictly the rules and guidelines from authorities based on WHO guidelines.

Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit
General secretary, World Council of Churches

Mr. Rudelmar Bueno de Faria
General secretary, ACT Alliance

* This is a work in progress resource, keep checking for updated information*

As the world continues to respond to the global pandemic of Covid-19, the coronavirus, the situation on the ground in every country is changing rapidly.  The ACT Security Group is putting together regular updates of their advice on how to deal with this virus.  The ACT Secretariat is in contact with forums and members around the world, and is looking into additional supports and responses that are possible from the Alliance.  We will continue to post updates to our website as they are available, to share our recommendations and responses to this situation.

WHO official page on COVID-19
Getting the workplace ready for COVID-19
Infographics for social media use
WHO FAQs

Download the latest advice from the ACT Security Group (March 16) here.

Check all the resources on the Programme Guide on Coronavirus: here

Resources, tips and trainings by ACTLearn

As we navigate in these troubling times of Covid-19, we are increasingly challenged by working remotely and conducting meetings and trainings online. Fortunately, ACT Alliance’s learning collaboration, ACTLearn, has focused on online collaboration and learning for several years and is ready to support! ACT Alliance members can take advantage of this collaboration and its resources.

A number of opportunities are listed below: 

 Advanced Online Facilitation – Making your webinar or online meeting engaging and motivational

Get inspiration, useful tips and other helpful resources for working with dispersed teams, hosting online meetings and trainings, and much more. Participation is free. The webinar is hosted by DanChurchAid’s Learning Lab.

The first webinar will take place on Thursday, March 26^th from 9:00-10:00 CET. Find out more about the webinar.

Join the ACTLearn/Fabo collaboration and develop your own online courses

If you are interested to know more about the ACTLearn/Fabo collaboration, please contact Head of Learning Lab, Simon Skårhøj, ssk@dca.dk, DanChurchAid. You can also read more here. 

Virtual Work Site – inspiration and sharing space on working and training online

Learning Lab has launched a new virtual work site for experience sharing to help transition from in-person working to remote working. The site gathers resources, tips and tricks all in one place. 

ACTLearn Hub for Learning – gate for ACT Alliance Members

This is a learning gate on fabo.org for ACT Alliance Members. On the site you can find courses for ACT Alliance Members. We are currently developing the catalogue. We are excited to offer free courses on “Code of Conduct“, “Complaints”, “Facilitation” and “Religion and Development”. https://fabo.org/act

Access to asylum cannot be denied: ACT Alliance appeals to the EU, its member states and the Turkish government for humanity and solidarity

STATEMENT

The current situation at the Greek-Turkish border is a testament to the failure of the international community at large to address the root causes of violent conflict, including the ongoing hostilities in Syria, as well as the failure to address its humanitarian and human rights fallout across borders, in particular on the part of the EU, Turkey and Greece.

Crossing borders to seek asylum on land or sea is not a crime, nor illegal under international or EU law. Giving access to asylum is an obligation under international and EU law that needs to be respected, and for which there is no acceptable derogation.

Bearing the brunt of these failures are the affected refugees themselves, whose position has become ever more untenable. The conditions they are facing are dire and are calling for immediate assistance. Even before the crisis in Idlib escalated further and refugees arrived at their border, reception conditions in Greece, especially in the overcrowded hotspots on the islands, were already seriously undermining basic standards of human dignity. Tensions between the local population, refugees and civil society organizations have become a daily reality, and sea arrivals are being made impossible.  Of particular concern are also the recent xenophobic mob attacks on those refugees who have managed to reach the islands, as well as on journalists and humanitarian workers assisting them or covering the situation.

ACT Alliance members have been working with partner organisations to meet the needs of refugees stranded in Turkey by providing baby blankets, hygiene sets and simple raincoats as well as portable toilets and water systems in areas where many refugees are staying in makeshift tents and a high number still remains without shelter. Member also highlight the specific protection needs of lactating women who cannot join the food distribution lines, and of babies and children who are facing hunger and are battling the cold weather. Widespread problems of exploitation at the hands of smugglers and extortions by profiteers for sales of bread and water are making the situation even more dramatic.

ACT Alliance members are also identifying and addressing an increase in relief needs in Greece, providing emergency relief kits, education for children and advice lines. They’re also working closely with UNHCR and UN agencies, journalists and politicians to coordinate the response efforts, but the current status quo is dramatic, to say the least.

These developments are an expected yet a tragic consequence of the ill-fated EU-Turkey deal from 2016,  which paved the way for Fortress Europe externalizing refugee protection. It was clear then and can certainly no longer be denied today, that this deal inherently exposed the EU to the kind of blackmail we are witnessing today, along with the erosion of long-held standards of protection and dignity.

On the policy front the Greek government must immediately revoke its decision to close the borders and stop taking asylum claims. The institutions and fellow member states of the European Union must also call upon Greece to respect its obligations instead of supporting their violent behaviour at the border.

Internal EU solidarity should mean immediate relocation of refugees from hotspots and reception centres and assistance in the reception of and quick relocation of newly arriving asylum seekers, hoping it will motivate Greece to return to lawful practice. At the local and municipal level, a coalition of mayors has already offered their support, for instance in Germany – countering the populist myth that “the people” of Europe are demanding tougher migration and asylum policies and thus forcing policymakers’ hands, and showcasing the solidarity and support Europeans and European civil society have been showing in the welcoming and reception of newly arriving third country nationals.

 It is against basic human dignity to use human suffering for political gain. The circumstances for persons in need of international protection in Turkey are very difficult, especially for those who are non-Syrian with no access to proper refugee status determination or protection in Turkey. Therefore, and because Turkey remains the country hosting the largest number of refugees worldwide, criticism of its tactics must be linked with reinforced offers of support for durable solutions, which at this stage means resettlement from Turkey, as well as financial assistance to help the country`s asylum and integration system.

While it is unacceptable to promote “safe zones” or to enable the premature return of refugees to Syria, the most recent response by the Greek government endangers the rights of persons on the move, including potential violations of the non-refoulement principle, and/or the triggering of chain refoulement. All EU agencies including the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) are bound by the EU Charter on Fundamental Rights and cannot participate in operations violating fundamental rights.

In order to address this pressing humanitarian crisis, we call on the Greek and Turkish governments to provide full and unconditional access to deliver humanitarian assistance to those stranded at the border. The number and condition of these people in need remains largely unknown, which is a cause for grave worry.

In addition, in the rest of the country, as of 6^th March, 115,000 migrants and refugees remain stranded in Greece, of whom around 41,200 are on the islands of Lesvos, Samos, Chios, Leros and Kos. More than 41,000 people remain stranded in reception centres across these islands which were originally designed for 5,400 people. Thousands of women, men, and children living in small tents are exposed to cold and rain with little or no access to heating and electricity. Hygiene and sanitation conditions are unsafe, and health problems are on the rise. Many cannot see a doctor as there are simply too few medical staff at the reception centres and local hospitals (IFRC, 5 March 2020).

Despite ongoing assistance, operations still do not meet the needs of refugees. Funding is required to support efforts in Turkey and Greece.

Any measures taken by actors involved must comply with international human rights law.

Over 150 organizations and social movements in Brazil made a public statement to denounce Bolsonaro’s calls for public demonstrations against the Brazilian National Congress and the Supreme Court, which violate constitutional principles.

The ACT Forum Brazil joined the call, as well its ACT members.

Find the statement below:

“The Rule of Law is conducive to the strengthening of democracy and democratic institutions, it guarantees the protection of human rights , freedom of expression and the fight against social inequalities. All institutions and citizens are called to commit and engage in the promotion and protection of such values.

It is unacceptable that the President of Brazil Jair Bolsonaro, participates in actions that endanger those democratic pillars, calling for public demonstrations against the National Congress and the Supreme Court. Such attitude clearly violates a number of constitutional principles such as the subsection II, article 85 of the Brazilian Constitution which states: “The crimes of responsibility are acts of the President of the Republic that violate the Federal Constitution and, especially, against: II – the free exercise of the Legislative Power, the Judicial Power, the Public Ministry and the Constitutional Powers of the Federation Unit “.

Attacks on democracy and social stability by the highest national authority cannot be tolerated or minimized as “personal statements.” It is urgent that our democratic institutions respond vigorously to these unacceptable behaviours and promote constitutional responsibility. We also hope that civil society organizations will participate in the establishment of a large coalition to defend democracy, freedom, the Rule of Law and guarantee the human rights for all Brazilians.”

“In 10 years, we have grown to become the world’s largest Protestant and Orthodox network working on humanitarian assistance, development and advocacy,” said Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, General Secretary of ACT Alliance, at an event to celebrate ACT’s 10^th anniversary in Geneva on February 27, 2020.  ACT has grown to be an alliance of over 135 churches and related agencies working in over 120 countries around the world in its first decade.

“Together, we have responded to many emergencies, ranging from the Haiti earthquake to the protracted crisis in Syria to the drought in the Horn of Africa. [We are present] in every corner of the planet, where our members, especially national members, can respond to small, medium and large crises.

“Through our members we engage in development, connecting with existing processes like the 2030 Agenda, and in advocacy work to promote human rights and fight against injustice,” he continued.

The event, held at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, drew over 100 people: staff from ACT members, the World Council of Churches, ACT partners, peer agencies, and the UN. 

“ACT Alliance and its members have done and continue to do vitally important work; having a real impact for some of the poorest and most marginalised people. You do this work in Christ’s name as Action by the Churches Together, ” said Dr. Isabel Apawo Phiri, Deputy General Secretary of the World Council of Churches.  “The World Council of Churches looks forward to working together with ACT Alliance over the next 10 years and beyond. ACT Alliance is an essential part of the ecumenical family; your work is needed and deeply appreciated.”

“The ACT Alliance has been, and continues to be an expression of the ecumenical commitment of the LWF and other members of the Alliance to work together with others in the ecumenical movement, to engage in the diaconal ministry of our churches and to serve those most in need,” said Maria Immonen, Director of World Service for the Lutheran World Federation and member of the ACT Governing Board. “LWF remains committed to this vision – that of an Alliance and an ecumenical movement which is not occupied with itself, but with the people in the world that it was created to serve. The fact that the world is changing at a higher speed than ever before, and the challenges are growing bigger every day, makes it even more important that we don’t lose sight of the reason why we created the ACT Alliance.”

“Together, we are stronger.  Together, we will continue as an alliance to speak out, to stand up, and act against injustices. We will promote climate justice, gender justice, the rights of people on the move, peace and human security, and also the protection of those people affected by emergencies and crises,” concluded de Faria.

Action by Churches Together (ACT Alliance) is celebrating its 10^th Anniversary since it was officially launched on January 1, 2010 as the ecumenical family’s agency for humanitarian relief, sustainable development and advocacy.

Together, we have responded to humanitarian disasters ranging from the Haiti earthquake, to the protracted crisis in Syria, to drought in the horn of Africa. We have engaged in capacity building, development and advocacy towards a world where all of God’s creation lives with dignity, justice, peace and full respect for human rights and the environment.

Over its first decade, ACT Alliance has reaffirmed its identity as a coalition of churches and affiliated organisations charged with the responsibility to serve people and communities affected by crises, poverty and injustice.

“We are proud of the work and achievements of our members over the last ten years. ACT’s unique structure which encompasses national and regional forums continues to facilitate the delivery of our effective, accountable and consistent work,” says Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, ACT’s General Secretary.

Together, we will continue to speak out, stand up and act against injustice, fight for climate justice, gender justice, the rights of people on the move, peace and human security, and the protection of people affected by emergencies.

Together, we are stronger.

In ten years, we have grown to become the world’s largest Protestant and Orthodox network on humanitarian relief, sustainable development, and advocacy, with over 130 churches and agencies working in over 120 countries. We look forward to what we will achieve in the next ten years!

We thank you for your continued support and commitment!

ACT 10th anniversary resources:

• 10th anniversary prayer EN ES FR
• 10th anniversary logo EN ES FR
• 10th anniversary photo gallery

Faith based organisations including the ACT Alliance, the Lutheran World Federation, Christian Aid and Act Church of Sweden have joined forces to launch a period of intense prayer and action for the climate.

These organisations launched a year long prayer and action chain ahead of the COP 26 summit in Glasgow in November later in the year to encourage communities of faith to pray and act for climate justice.

During this period of Lent which starts today, ecumenical organisations intensify prayer about everything and we encourage all to include adequate and effective actions for the climate and to influence policy makers at any level accessible to them to increase political will particularly towards COP 26, where we pray to see more consensus and real action which has been missing these past years.

Arnold Ambundo, ACT Alliance’s Global Climate Justice Coordinator says that “Our survival on this God-given earth is facing an existential threat from the adverse impacts of climate change.  Now more than ever humankind is called upon to come together in prayer and in action to urgently reverse the current trend of business as usual to guarantee the needs of present and future generations as demanded by the word of God in the creation stories”.

In the face of devastating loss and suffering by those who mostly had very little to do with causing climate change, the organisations call on all to pray and act for climate justice with us as we reflect on the diversity of creation. Abena Afari of Christian Aid said: “Let’s embrace in love and solidarity impoverished communities, women, children, indigenous people, migrants, refugees who historically have generated a low carbon footprint, yet are the ones facing the greatest impacts from the destruction to planet and climate caused by overconsumption by the rich and an economic model based on extraction and exploitation”

“If we truly care about bridging the inequality gap between the rich and the poor, we need to create solidarity between people and peoples and call for governments and industries to deliver radical and rapid emissions reductions and ways to increase resilience to already unavoidable impacts of climate change and ecological destruction”.

During the Earth Summit in 1992, the United Nations together with Governments and Civil Society agreed to a framework to battle the emission of greenhouse gases which cause climate change. The UN Convention on Climate Change provides a framework through which discussions are held with all global players with respect to humanity’s current challenge of tackling the climate crisis.

LWF’s Program Executive for Climate Justice, Elena Cedillo Vargas, underscored the importance of this global, ecumenical initiative: She said; “We are at a crucial moment, now, more than ever before, we must take care of creation, our common home, and call on our leaders to take more ambitious and urgent action to stop the climate crisis.”  COP26, Cedillo stressed, is “the last chance for countries to really show their commitments to reduce their carbon emissions. There is no going back, the decision is in our hands, we all need to change our habits and pay more attention to cries of the earth.”

Please sign up to our face book page https://www.facebook.com/Act4Climate2020/

Notes to editors:

The ACT Alliance is a global network of churches and church-based agencies that does humanitarian response, sustainable development, and advocacy work.  ACT is made up of 156 members working in over 125 countries.

Media contacts:

Simon Chambers, Director of Communications, ACT Alliance

Mobile: +1-416-435-0972

Email: Simon.Chambers@actalliance.org

Rev. Arni Svanur Danielsson, Head of Communication, Lutheran World Federation

Mobile: +41 78 929 9686

Email: arni.danielsson@lutheranworld.org

Joe Ware, Comms Manager, News & Emergencies, Christian Aid

Mobile: +44 78 7094 4485

Emal: JWare@christian-aid.org

Twitter: @wareisjoe

How might the wars in Mali, South Sudan and Somalia be impacted if climate change was no longer an issue? While it is impossible to know precisely, climate scientists have identified disturbing links between climate change and conflict.

People living in fragile contexts are struggling to survive as climate-related threats intensify. It is frightening to see how drastic shifts in weather patterns result in severe drought, which is often followed by flooding. Extreme environmental change is decimating crops, water reserves and is wreaking havoc in local economies. Disputes over the control of arable land and water sources may also lead to increased violence and conflict many fragile states.

As the International Security Conference kicks off in Munich today, state leaders, ministers and experts will meet to discuss the anticipated global threats to international security and ways to overcome them. While there are many factors at the local and international level that affect conflict, there is a growing realisation that the global temperature rise must be addressed to prevent further violence and to sustain peace.

While the threats posed by climate change are extremely worrying, there is a silver lining worth noting in the context of conflict. The reality is that many drivers of conflict, such as historical, ethnic or religious relationships, or the struggle for power are difficult to influence and there are no straightforward solutions. However, once leaders recognise that climate change is a potential driver of violent conflict that must be addressed, they will find that there are concrete and immediate measures that can be put in place to address it.

We know that in the coming years climate change will have dramatic consequences on countries south of the Sahara as less rainfall and more heatwaves will make it challenging to sustain agricultural activities. This reality and potential source of conflict could be addressed in two ways. One way is that massive investments could be made towards climate adaptation using technologies and new farming methods to enable communities to develop and grow crops even if the climate is changing.

Alternatively, the changing conditions could be accepted and efforts could instead be directed towards helping people to safely resettle in new areas. While migration has been a common strategy throughout history (sometimes by choice, and other times not), it is not without the risk of violence, social unrest and hardships for those displaced.

There is a need to increase climate finance specifically for countries where climate-related conflicts are looming. Climate finance should not only be scaled up but it should also be carefully considered in terms of how it can best support communities that are most likely to be displaced and suffer from violence. While rich countries could argue that they are already mobilising support, these efforts are lagging and continue to prioritise the needs of emerging economies instead of the poorest and most vulnerable countries where the risk of climate-related conflict is most significant.

I hope that participants at the Munich Security Conference will consider this perspective because climate change is a security threat and needs to be tackled as one immediately.

Blog written by Mattias Söderberg (@Mattias_S). Senior advocacy adviser at DanChurchAid. Mattias currently serves as the co-chair of ACT’s Climate Change Working Group.

One of the key issues that was discussed during the ACT Secretariat meetings in Athens, Greece at the beginning of February was migration and displacement.  As one of the key thematics of the ACT global strategy, migration and displacement is an area of focus for many members around the world, from North America to Asia, Africa to MENA, and Latin America to Europe.

While in Athens, ACT’s General Secretary, Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, met with His Beatitude, Archbishop Ieronymos II, and with His Emminence, Metropolitan Gabriel of the Greek Orthodox Church.  The conversation with both leaders involved the issue of migration.

“The situation of migrants and refugees in Greece is indicative of the complexity of migration issues globally, and the need for better policies and support of those living in tents in ‘hot spots’—sites created to quickly process migrants seeking entry into Greece, is crystal clear,” said de Faria.

Metropolitan Gabriel spoke of the vital role the issue of migration plays for the church in Greece.  “We must act now on this issue.  We have engaged in humanitarian response for years, and we will continue to do so.  But it is the time for advocacy now.  This is a global issue of concern to every country, every person.”

ACT members have responded to the needs of migrants since 2015 through members of the ACT Europe Forum, and through Apostoli, the Archdiocese’s agency for Mission.

The ACT Secretariat devoted a session to discussing the migration situation in Greece, as well as another talking about global issues related to migration and displacement.

“I’m very proud of the work of the Church of Greece in responding to the migration and refugee crisis.  ACT is ready to stand alongside the Church in its call to act now,” concluded de Faria.

In response to the Middle East plan released last Tuesday by the US President Donald Trump

The ACT Alliance, through its Palestine Forum, the largest coalition of Protestant and Orthodox churches and church-related organizations engaged in humanitarian, development and advocacy work, calls upon the international community to categorically reject Trump’s “Peace to Prosperity” plan and to uphold their commitments to international law and multilateral cooperation as the only way to safeguard security and ensure lasting peace.

On Tuesday January 28, 2020 US President Donald Trump unveiled a “Peace to Prosperity” Plan, claiming that it aims, according to the US administration, to improve the lives of Palestinians and Israeli people.

ACT Alliance condemns the US administration’s proposal – consistent with US policy shifts we have witnessed over the past years – as a blatant breach of international law, and we reiterate that any solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict must be negotiated and accepted by both sides. The U.S. administration reaffirmed once again its recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, approved the annexations of the Israeli settlements in the West Bank, the Jordan Valley and the northern Dead Sea and reaffirmed its recognition of the Golan Heights. In other words, the U.S. policy encourages annexation and exacerbates human rights violations in the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt) and the Golan Heights.

Israeli authorities have been engaged in incremental, de facto annexation since it occupied the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, in 1967. According to the Fourth Geneva Convention, an occupier may not transfer its population to the territories it occupies. Therefore, any plans to annex parts of the occupied territories are illegal and unacceptable. The extension of Israeli sovereignty to the West Bank, or even parts of it, would be an ultimate blow to the two-state solution and risks triggering irreversible effect on peace prospects in the region.

Trump’s plan also disregards the Palestinian People’s right of return and right to self- determination.It is essential that any peace agreement includes a just resolution to the question of Palestinian refugees.

The struggle for indigenous rights extends to Palestine, indigenous peoples around the world share a similar experience to the Palestinian struggle for their rights. The Palestinian land includes open-air prisons and territories occupied militarily and administratively by Israel through a complex matrix of control. Checkpoints, illegal land expropriation and home demolitions are among other colonial and apartheid-style policies that have turned Israeli’s illegal actions into a bureaucratic process.

ACT Alliance members are deeply concerned about the human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territories(oPt), and we call upon the international community to:

● Firmly reject the U.S. “Peace to Prosperity” plan as a viable solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and any implication based on this plan.
● Ensure that the state of Israel respects International Human Rights Law (IHRL) and International Humanitarian law (IHL) and hold Israel accountable for its ongoing annexation policies.
● Take immediate action to lift the blockade on Gaza and end the illegal occupation to reduce human suffering in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
● Ensure sufficient funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and increase support to East Jerusalem hospitals and other humanitarian programs given the severe cuts in U.S. funding for the West Bank and Gaza.