Europe acted like a dissonant choir when responding to the Trump administration’s travel ban. Is this a surprise? Not really when one looks at the trend of EU’s migration policies in the past two years: the erection of walls and international cooperation to keep refugees and migrants out of sight and out of reach. Is this the Europe that we want? ACT Alliance EU has joined 160 other organisations in asking European leaders to stand up for humanity and dignity and to foster and promote the European Union’s commitments to human rights and international law at home and abroad.

The announcement of the “travel ban” by US President Donald Trump provoked mixed reactions among European leaders. A quick overlook at the various reactions offers an interesting snapshot of Europe’s consensus on asylum and migration.

Federica Mogherini, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy stated at the European Parliament that “The EU will not turn its back on anyone who has the right to international protection”. The German Chancellor, Angela Merkel lectured president Trump on the virtues of the 1951 Geneva Convention on the phone.  French president François Hollande asked him to show a sense of responsibility. Theresa May who initially did not condemn the ban was finally pressed at the House of Commons to declare: “I’ve made very clear that this policy is divisive and wrong. It is not a policy that we would introduce”.

Nonetheless, the ban found a positive echo in Central Europe. Support came from Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán. The Hungarian government’s chief spokesman, Zoltán Kovács already claimed Trump’s election in the US was contributing to “a change of mood in Europe” that vindicated Orbán’s tough position on migration. Meanwhile, Poland’s foreign minister defended President Trump’s immigration order, arguing that every sovereign country has the right to decide its own immigration policy. Writing on Twitter, the spokesperson of President Milos Zeman of the Czech Republic said Trump “protects his country” and called for the European Union to take similar measures.

The absence of unanimous condemnation is no surprise when one looks at the reality of EU’s policy vis-à-vis refugees and migrants. We, Europeans, already have our “impenetrable, physical, tall, powerful, beautiful, southern border wall”: the Mediterranean Sea. It is not actually that impenetrable, but is still dangerous enough that 5,096 refugees and migrants were reported dead or missing at sea in 2016 alone. Talking about walls, many have not waited to be inspired by president Trump’s approach to build their own walls on their land borders. In 2015 alone, Hungary, Austria, Slovenia, Macedonia, and Bulgaria all started construction or announced plans to build fences. In the same vein, Norway built a steel fence at a remote Arctic border post with Russia to deter migration. A one-kilometer “anti-intrusion” wall was built in late 2016 to block access to the northern port of Calais for migrants trying to clandestinely cross the English Channel to Britain. Since the fall of the Berlin Wall, European countries have built or started 1,200 km of anti-migrant fences, costing at least €500 million ($570 million) –which represents 40% of the US-Mexico border.

On top of this, to deter the ones who would try to reach its continent, the European Union is entering into agreements with other countries where they agree to seal their borders and create the conditions for migrants and refugees to stay in these countries. This approach has huge financial and political consequences as well as human rights implications.

The EU-Turkey deal implies the disbursement of €3 billion funding which are designated for projects to improve the lives of refugees as well as of host communities in Turkey. To quote Gauri van Gulik, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Europe: “The EU-Turkey deal has been a disaster for the thousands who have been left stranded in a dangerous, desperate and seemingly endless limbo on the Greek islands”.  It is presented as a success story by the European Commission and serves as a model for other deals.

Last month, the European Commission announced a plan to disburse 200 million EUR to be shuffled into border control and surveillance in the hope of containing people likely to attempt the perilous Mediterranean Sea crossing in the upcoming months. Concerns were raised by civil society organisations,including ACT Alliance and ACT Alliance EU: the decision to transfer the responsibility for managing migratory movements along the central Mediterranean route to Libya will neither reduce human rights abuses, nor end smuggling. Instead, it will significantly increase harm and suffering.

These examples show that instead of countering the rise of xenophobic populists, Europe’s response has too often been to copy their recipes and ignore voices offering sustainable, long-term migration policies that guarantee respect for people’s rights. At the occasion of the European Council 9-10 March, 160+ organisations -ACT Alliance EU among them- reminded that Europe needs to be strong and faithful to its core values which are based on respect for human rights and international law. “Strength doesn’t mean turning away those most in need. Strength is about showing a way forward that upholds values”.

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Agnès Bertrand has more than ten years’ experience in EU external affairs and human rights. She is currently the European refugee crisis advocacy officer for the ACT Alliance, based in Brussels, Belgium, since May 2016 and was previously the Middle-East policy officer for ACT Alliance EU. In her current position, she is charge of advocacy to the European Union in relation to its policies vis-à-vis refugees. Agnes is holds a PhD in International law from the School of Oriental and African Studies (University of London) and a masters in European law from the Sorbonne. She taught international law at SOAS and external relations of the European Union at Science Po Lille.

When Rudelmar Bueno de Faria joins the ACT Alliance as the new General Secretary on June 1, he will arrive with 25 years of experience working in the ecumenical family. Rudelmar has worked with LWF World Service and the WCC in a wide range of roles. “I had the opportunity to work in different settings, but also to relate to different cultures,” he said in an interview.  “Currently In my position here in New York, I am facilitating the participation of the ecumenical movement in the advocacy at the United Nations… World Bank and IMF, and also with several of the interreligious organizations that are engaging in both humanitarian and development work.”

Members are the strength of ACT

When asked about the strengths of the ACT Alliance, Rudelmar immediately pointed to the over 140 members who make up the alliance, working at the national, regional and global levels. He highlighted the “…different skills and expertise that different members bring to the alliance.

We have organizations that have access to remote communities. They are able to provide first response in case of emergencies- saving lives. But they are also able to influence at the national level policies that are affecting the lives of people. And they have also the space and the connection to global decision-making spaces like the UN systems but also government as well.”

The broad range of churches and agencies that make up ACT also allow the alliance to be “…effective in all elements related to accountability, especially to affected populations by disasters.  [ACT has] very good systems in place which help to create this effectiveness when responding to humanitarian crises but also working on sustainable development and advocacy.”

Rudelmar’s experience as a member of the ACT Governing Board and Executive Committee during his time with LWF has ensured that he is aware of the areas where ACT can improve.  He is confident that the alliance can grow and increase its effectiveness together. “I believe that working together collaboratively …[can] bring different skills, can support common objectives- [for] improved lives of people and to fight against injustices in all parts of the world.”

A focus on members and ecumenical diakonia

Rudelmar’s first few months with ACT will be focused, among other things, on a dialogue with members about ecumenical diakonia and what it means to be an alliance with so many different areas of expertise and different roles that members play.  ACT needs to be “…discerning together about distinct roles of different members, how we can build up an alliance that can be effective and will make a difference in the world today.”

The concept of ecumenical diakonia is a key to the ACT Alliance- an important part of its founding, and its movement into the future.  The goal in creating ACT “…was to establish a coordinated platform for ecumenical diakonia expressing a joint vision of the ecumenical movement with the member churches and specialized ministries with the purpose to assist people in need and work for a better world.”

The conversation around diakonia will help ACT members to come to a “…common discernment and agreement in terms of the different contributions, talents, gifts that different actors from the ecumenical movement can bring to promoting human rights, human dignity, fighting against injustices.”

Members: Engage positively in the alliance

Rudelmar’s message to ACT members is simple and inspiring: “I make a call to all ACT members to engage with the alliance- engage positively, engage in terms of providing elements and also bringing the different perspectives and the contextual situations in their respective countries and regions to be [debated] and also to help to define what the profile of the alliance after the Assembly.”

The full interview with Rudelmar is available here

ACT Alliance stands in solidarity with its members in Guatemala and with Guatemalan human rights defenders as they stand up, despite threats and attacks, to promote and protect universally recognized human rights.

The serious situation for those who work for human rights in Guatemala was painfully illustrated by the deaths of two human rights defenders in January 2017. John Nduna, General Secretary of the ACT Alliance, said, “ACT Alliance was founded to work towards a world where all people can live with dignity, justice and full respect for human rights and the environment. Threats, intimidation, and violence against people who are peacefully protecting their own and their communities’ rights cannot be allowed.”

The Guatemala ACT Forum has released a statement urging:

1. The Public Prosecutor (MP) and corresponding authorities to investigate the assassination and attacks against human rights defenders in Guatemala, identify the perpetrators and initiate legal proceedings.

2. The Human Rights Ombudsman (PDH) to fulfill its mandate of observing human rights and making recommendations to the Guatemalan state about how to improve the fulfillment of national and international human rights obligations, especially with regards to indigenous peoples and human rights defenders.

3. The Ministry of the Interior to guarantee the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, especially for rural populations and indigenous peoples organizing in favor of their rights to land, water, and self-determination as indigenous peoples.

4. The State of Guatemala to implement the mechanisms established by ILO Convention 169, and other aspects of national and international law that guarantee the rights of indigenous peoples.

5. The international community and the United Nations Human Rights Council to call upon countries with financial investments in the region to monitor and evaluate their actions so that they do not contribute to social conflicts or threats towards human rights defenders who work in favor of social and environmental justice.

6. Churches and faith-based organizations to join in solidarity with the rural and indigenous communities of Guatemala who have mobilized in favor of the environment and human rights.

ACT Alliance is a coalition of 144 affiliated churches and organizations that work together in more than 100 countries to foster and promote a positive, sustainable change in the livelihoods of poor and marginalized people regardless of their religion, political beliefs, gender, sexual orientation, race or nationality and in compliance with the strictest international codes and norms. 

ACT Alliance stands in solidarity with its members in Guatemala and with Guatemalan human rights defenders as they stand up, despite threats and attacks, to promote and protect universally recognized human rights.

The serious situation for those who work for human rights in Guatemala was painfully illustrated by the deaths of two human rights defenders in January 2017. John Nduna, General Secretary of the ACT Alliance, said, “ACT Alliance was founded to work towards a world where all people can live with dignity, justice and full respect for human rights and the environment. Threats, intimidation, and violence against people who are peacefully protecting their own and their communities’ rights cannot be allowed.”

The Guatemala ACT Forum has released a statement urging:

1. The Public Prosecutor (MP) and corresponding authorities to investigate the assassination and attacks against human rights defenders in Guatemala, identify the perpetrators and initiate legal proceedings.

2. The Human Rights Ombudsman (PDH) to fulfill its mandate of observing human rights and making recommendations to the Guatemalan state about how to improve the fulfillment of national and international human rights obligations, especially with regards to indigenous peoples and human rights defenders.

3. The Ministry of the Interior to guarantee the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, especially for rural populations and indigenous peoples organizing in favor of their rights to land, water, and self-determination as indigenous peoples.

4. The State of Guatemala to implement the mechanisms established by ILO Convention 169, and other aspects of national and international law that guarantee the rights of indigenous peoples.

5. The international community and the United Nations Human Rights Council to call upon countries with financial investments in the region to monitor and evaluate their actions so that they do not contribute to social conflicts or threats towards human rights defenders who work in favor of social and environmental justice.

6. Churches and faith-based organizations to join in solidarity with the rural and indigenous communities of Guatemala who have mobilized in favor of the environment and human rights.

ACT Alliance is a coalition of 144 affiliated churches and organizations that work together in more than 100 countries to foster and promote a positive, sustainable change in the livelihoods of poor and marginalized people regardless of their religion, political beliefs, gender, sexual orientation, race or nationality and in compliance with the strictest international codes and norms. 

ACT Alliance stands in solidarity with its members in Guatemala and with Guatemalan human rights defenders as they stand up, despite threats and attacks, to promote and protect universally recognized human rights.

The serious situation for those who work for human rights in Guatemala was painfully illustrated by the deaths of two human rights defenders in January 2017. John Nduna, General Secretary of the ACT Alliance, said, “ACT Alliance was founded to work towards a world where all people can live with dignity, justice and full respect for human rights and the environment. Threats, intimidation, and violence against people who are peacefully protecting their own and their communities’ rights cannot be allowed.”

The Guatemala ACT Forum has released a statement urging:

1. The Public Prosecutor (MP) and corresponding authorities to investigate the assassination and attacks against human rights defenders in Guatemala, identify the perpetrators and initiate legal proceedings.

2. The Human Rights Ombudsman (PDH) to fulfill its mandate of observing human rights and making recommendations to the Guatemalan state about how to improve the fulfillment of national and international human rights obligations, especially with regards to indigenous peoples and human rights defenders.

3. The Ministry of the Interior to guarantee the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, especially for rural populations and indigenous peoples organizing in favor of their rights to land, water, and self-determination as indigenous peoples.

4. The State of Guatemala to implement the mechanisms established by ILO Convention 169, and other aspects of national and international law that guarantee the rights of indigenous peoples.

5. The international community and the United Nations Human Rights Council to call upon countries with financial investments in the region to monitor and evaluate their actions so that they do not contribute to social conflicts or threats towards human rights defenders who work in favor of social and environmental justice.

6. Churches and faith-based organizations to join in solidarity with the rural and indigenous communities of Guatemala who have mobilized in favor of the environment and human rights.

ACT Alliance is a coalition of 144 affiliated churches and organizations that work together in more than 100 countries to foster and promote a positive, sustainable change in the livelihoods of poor and marginalized people regardless of their religion, political beliefs, gender, sexual orientation, race or nationality and in compliance with the strictest international codes and norms. 

 ACT Alliance and ACT Alliance EU have joined over 70 organisations in expressing their grave concerns about proposed EU cooperation with Libya in an open letter to EU heads of state and EU policymakers. This concern was triggered by the declaration  following the recent European Council meeting on Malta on 3 February, announcing plans to seek closer cooperation with Libya “to ensure effective control of our external border and stem illegal flows into the EU”, and ahead of the upcoming European Council meeting on 9-10 March, which is expected to discuss these plans in more detail.

“The decision to transfer the responsibility for managing migratory movements along the central Mediterranean route to Libya will neither reduce human rights abuses, nor end smuggling. Instead, it will significantly increase harm and suffering,” the letter reads.

It calls upon the EU to ”[f]acilitate safe mobility by opening and strengthening safe and regular channels to Europe for refugees and migrants including through resettlement, humanitarian admission and humanitarian visas, family reunification, worker mobility across skill levels and student visas,” as well as to review the human rights situation in Libya, and to put in place specific measures to protect vulnerable groups in all its approaches to migration management.

Read the announcement here  and the full letter here.

COMUNICADO DE PRENSA

ACT Alianza y el Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI) anunciaron hoy de manera conjunta que celebrarán consecutivamente dos reuniones estratégicas de sus órganos rectores en Uppsala (Suecia) en el otoño de 2018. La Asamblea General de ACT Alianza, que tendrá lugar a finales de octubre, reunirá a más de doscientas personas de su membrecía en todo el mundo en su reunión cuatrienal. Después, el Comité Ejecutivo del CMI y miembros de la Asamblea General de ACT se reunirán el 1 de noviembre para compartir un día de aprendizaje y trabajo sobre el concepto de la diaconía ecuménica y el desarrollo sostenible, al que seguirá la reunión habitual del Comité Ejecutivo del CMI.

Miembros de ACT, la Iglesia de Suecia y Diakonia acogerán conjuntamente la Asamblea de ACT. Los anfitriones del Comité Ejecutivo del CMI serán la Iglesia de Suecia, la Iglesia Unida en Suecia y el Consejo Cristiano de Iglesias de Suecia.

Comentarios del CMI:
“La idea de celebrar una reunión conjunta surgió durante la Consulta internacional sobre la relación entre las iglesias y los ministerios especializados que se celebró en Malawi en septiembre de 2014. Una de las medidas específicas propuestas en el informe era contribuir a mejorar la relación de las iglesias y los ministerios especializados y debatir el papel de la diaconía”, dijo el Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit, secretario general del CMI.

Tveit añadió: “Con el fin de volver a nuestras raíces y nuestro origen, echamos la vista atrás a los modelos a seguir. Uno de ellos es el arzobispo sueco Nathan Söderblom, que ayudó a crear lo que más tarde se convertiría en el CMI. En 1930 recibió el Premio Nobel de la Paz por sus iniciativas transfronterizas”.

Comentarios de ACT Alianza:
“Tener la oportunidad de reunirse con el Comité Ejecutivo del CMI para pasar un día debatiendo sobre la diaconía ecuménica –el ministerio del servicio– será una excelente oportunidad para que los miembros de ACT Alianza profundicemos en nuestras ideas sobre la labor que realizamos, particularmente en el ámbito del desarrollo sostenible, junto con nuestros colegas del CMI”, dijo John Nduna, secretario general de ACT Alianza. “Esta conversación será una forma adecuada de concluir nuestra Asamblea y confiamos en que también sea un comienzo emocionante para el Comité Ejecutivo del CMI”.

Comentarios desde Suecia:
“La Iglesia de Suecia se congratula de acoger la Asamblea como una expresión visible de nuestro compromiso con ACT Alianza y una manera de compartir nuestro contexto con todos los miembros de la alianza”, dijo Erik Lysén, director de Asuntos Internacionales de la Iglesia de Suecia.

“En vista de los desafíos mundiales, como el cambio climático, el éxodo masivo y la pobreza, es imperativo que las iglesias y las organizaciones de desarrollo sean una voz profética a favor de la justicia en el mundo”, dijo Bo Forsberg, secretario general de Diakonia.

El Comité Ejecutivo del CMI, que se organizará inmediatamente después de la Asamblea de ACT, tendrá como anfitriones a la Iglesia de Suecia, la Iglesia Unida en Suecia y el Consejo Cristiano de Iglesias de Suecia.

En 2018 se cumplirá el 50º aniversario de la IV Asamblea del CMI, que tuvo lugar en 1968 en Uppsala, y el 70º aniversario de la creación del CMI en 1948 en Ámsterdam. Celebrar la Asamblea General de ACT y el Comité Ejecutivo del CMI en Uppsala en 2018 brinda la oportunidad de conectar con un importante hito de la labor del movimiento ecuménico sobre la justicia y la paz que ha determinado lo que ACT Alianza y el CMI son en la actualidad, y lo que serán en el futuro.

COMMUNIQUÉ DE PRESSE

L’Alliance ACT et le Conseil œcuménique des Églises (COE) ont annoncé aujourd’hui conjointement leur intention d’organiser deux rencontres consécutives sur la stratégie de gouvernance à Uppsala, en Suède, à l’automne 2018. L’Assemblée générale d’ACT Alliance aura lieu fin octobre et rassemblera plus de 200 personnes représentant les membres de l’organisation dans le monde entier. Cette réunion a lieu tous les quatre ans. Le Comité exécutif du COE et les membres de l’Assemblée générale d’ACT se retrouveront ensuite le 1^er novembre pour une journée commune d’étude et de travail autour de la notion de diaconie œcuménique et de développement durable, qui sera suivie par la réunion normale du Comité exécutif du COE.

L’Assemblée d’ACT sera accueillie par les membres d’ACT, l’Église de Suède et Diakonia. Le Comité exécutif du COE sera l’hôte de l’Église de Suède, de l’Église unifiante en Suède et du Conseil chrétien d’Églises en Suède.

Commentaires du COE:
«L’idée d’une rencontre conjointe est apparue lors de la consultation internationale sur la relation entre Églises et ministères spécialisés qui s’est tenue au Malawi en septembre 2014 » a déclaré Olav Fykse Tveit, secrétaire général du COE. « L’une des actions particulières présentes dans le rapport portait sur l’amélioration des relations entre Églises et ministère spécialisés ainsi que sur une discussion à propos du rôle de la diaconie.»

«Afin de revenir à nos racines et à nos origines – a-t-il ajouté – regardons à nos modèles. Ainsi, par exemple, l’archevêque suédois Nathan Söderblom qui a participé à la création de ce qui devait devenir le COE. Il a reçu le Prix Nobel de la Paix en 1930 pour ses initiatives transfrontalières.»

Commentaires d’ACT Alliance:
Pour John Nduna, secrétaire général d’ACT Alliance, «la possibilité de se réunir avec le Comité exécutif du COE pour passer une journée à discuter de la diaconie œcuménique, du ministère de service, sera une excellente occasion pour les membres d’ACT Alliance d’approfondir leur réflexion sur leur travail, notamment dans le domaine du développement durable, avec nos collègues du COE. Ce sera une conclusion adéquate à notre Assemblée et, espérons-le, une façon passionnante d’introduire le Comité exécutif du COE.»

Commentaires du côté suédois:
«L’Église de Suède est heureuse d’accueillir l’Assemblée, ce sera l’expression visible de notre engagement vis-à-vis d’ACT Alliance ainsi qu’une façon de partager avec tous ses membres ce qui fait notre contexte», a déclaré Erik Lysén, directeur des affaires internationales de l’Église de Suède.

Selon Bo Forsberg, secrétaire général de Diakonia, «étant donnés les problèmes au niveau mondial, tels que les changements climatiques, l’exode massif et la pauvreté, les Églises et les organisations qui s’occupent de développement doivent de toute nécessité être des voix prophétiques en faveur de la justice dans le monde.»

Le Comité exécutif du COE qui sera organisé consécutivement à l’Assemblée d’ACT sera l’hôte de l’Église de Suède, de l’Église unifiante en Suède et du Conseil chrétien d’Églises en Suède.

2018 verra le 50^ème anniversaire de la 4^ème Assemblée du COE en 1968, à Uppsala, et le 70^èmeanniversaire de la fondation du COE à Amsterdam en 1948. Le fait de réunir l’Assemblée générale d’ACT et le Comité exécutif du COE à Uppsala en 2018 sera l’occasion de se référer à une étape importante du travail du mouvement œcuménique sur justice et paix, travail qui a contribué à donner forme à ce qu’ACT Alliance et le COE sont aujourd’hui et seront à l’avenir.

PRESS RELEASE

ACT Alliance and the World Council of Churches (WCC) jointly announced today that they will hold two strategic governance meetings, back to back, in Uppsala, Sweden in the fall of 2018. The ACT Alliance General Assembly will be held at the end of October, bringing together over 200 people from its membership around the world at its quadrennial meeting. The WCC’s Executive Committee and members of ACT’s General Assembly will then meet together on 1 November for a joint day of learning and work around the concept of ecumenical diaconia and sustainable development, followed by the WCC Executive Committee’s regular meeting.

The ACT Assembly will be hosted jointly by ACT members, the Church of Sweden and Diakonia. The WCC Executive Committee will be hosted by the Church of Sweden, Uniting Church in Sweden and the Christian Council of Churches in Sweden.

Comments from the WCC:
“The idea to have a joint meeting surfaced during the International Consultation on the Relationship between Churches and Specialized Ministries, held in Malawi in September 2014. One of the proposed specific points of action from the report was to contribute to improving the relationship of churches and specialized ministries and discuss the role of diaconia”, said Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the WCC.

Tveit added, “In order to return to our roots and our origin, we look back at role models. One such role model is the Swedish Archbishop Nathan Söderblom, who helped create what later became the WCC. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1930 for his cross-border initiatives.”

Comments from the ACT Alliance:
“Having the opportunity to gather with the Executive Committee of the WCC to spend a day discussing ecumenical diaconia, the ministry of servanthood, will be an excellent opportunity for members of the ACT Alliance to deepen our thinking about our work, particularly in the area of sustainable development, together with our colleagues in the WCC,” said John Nduna, general secretary of the ACT Alliance. “This conversation will be a fitting conclusion to our Assembly and, we trust, an exciting opening to the WCC’s Executive Committee.”

Comments from Sweden:
“The Church of Sweden is happy to host the Assembly as a visible expression of our commitment to the ACT Alliance and as a way of sharing our context with all members of the Alliance,” said Erik Lysén, director, International Affairs, at the Church of Sweden.

“In view of the global challenges, such as climate change, mass exodus and poverty, it is imperative for churches and development organizations to be a prophetic voice for justice in the world,” said Bo Forsberg, general secretary at Diakonia.

The WCC Executive Committee, to be organized back-to-back with the ACT Assembly, will be hosted jointly by the Church of Sweden, the Uniting Church in Sweden and the Christian Council of Churches in Sweden.

The year 2018 will mark the 50th Anniversary of the 4th WCC Assembly in 1968, in Uppsala and the 70^th Anniversary since the WCC was founded 1948 in Amsterdam. Holding the ACT General Assembly and the WCC Executive Committee in Uppsala in 2018 gives an opportunity to connect to an important milestone in the ecumenical movement’s work on justice and peace, which has shaped what the ACT Alliance and the WCC are today, and will be in the future.