Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation
- Poster of the UEM human rights campaign 2006
Why does the UEM commit itself to working for human rights and peace?
UEM members regard working together for peace and justice as an integral part of their missionary task. And they do so against the background of the numerous violent conflicts and wars, in which UEM member churches have been, and continue to be, affected – for example, in Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and the Philippines. Furthermore, the situation in almost all countries, in which the UEM has member churches, is marked by economic injustice, poverty, the exclusion of large sections of the population from access to education, health provision, land and food.
How does the UEM stand up for peace and human rights?
Through a series of international gatherings and consultations in recent years, the UEM has encouraged its member churches to examine how churches together can effectively stand up for human rights, perform peace and reconciliation work and, in the face of the negative economic consequences of globalisation, contribute
to global justice.
The main priorities are:
- Capacity building
- Economic justice and globalisation
- Lobby and advocacy work
- Raising awareness and project support
- Reconciliation work
These programmes have been co-ordinated by the Department for Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation, which was set up in 1993. The UEM has its own human rights commission which meets annually. The member churches are, through contact persons for human rights and peace work, part of a UEM network.
1. Capacity building for peace and human rights work
Supporting the training of qualified personnel in peace and human rights work is provided at local, regional and international levels through scholarships, seminars and consultations.
2. Economic justice and globalisation
One of the UEM’s working priorities is the commitment of the churches to economic justice in the face of the negative consequences of globalisation. The UEM participates in, and supports, national as well as international initiatives and campaigns, for example for a cancellation of debt for the poorest countries, for fair rules in world trade, for the multinational concerns to comply with, for human rights and environmental standards, for the improvement in the working conditions of women in the textile industry, for educational and grassroots work on the topic “wealth and poverty”, and for effective prevention of the illegal exploitation of raw materials in conflict regions.
3. Lobby and advocacy work for peace and human rights
In view of specific regional conflicts, such as in Africa's Great Lakes Region or in West Papua, Indonesia, the UEM, together with other partners, has set up and developed two networks in Germany in the last ten years: the West Papua Network and the Ecumenical Network Central Africa.
Through these working alliances, the interests and concerns of partners in the South are presented to, and discussed with, the German Government, the German Parliament and representatives of the European Union. This is also done within the framework of the political discussions and events organised by the Forum Human Rights, a coalition of civil society organisations in Germany that campaigns for the implementation of human rights worldwide.
Vis-à-vis the United Nations, for example at the annual sessions of the UN Human Rights Commission, the UEM, together with other ecumenical partners such as the World Council of Churches and the Lutheran World Federation, speaks on behalf of the interests of partners from the South and enables representatives from UEM member churches to participate in the Commission.
4. Raising awareness and project support
The UEM supports raising awareness in the area of human rights and peace work through a range of publications, seminars and poster campaigns. It also supports the human rights and peace projects financed by donations in areas including:
- legal and humanitarian aid for political prisoners and victims of grave human rights violations, marginalised groups, Aids orphans
combating poverty (small loans , advice and assistance for small farm holders) - environmental protection and health provision (reforestation, use of medicinal plants, medical aid)
- support for the lobbying and advocacy work of local parishes and groups, such as in dealing with timber and mining companies or industrial concerns on matters of the rights of employees.
5. Reconciliation work
Reconciliation work is especially necessary following violent conflict, in order to facilitate long-term peaceful development and heal damaged relations. In response to various armed conflicts in the countries of its member churches, the UEM has promoted and organised reconciliation initiatives and projects in countries including Rwanda, Sri Lanka and the Democratic Republic of Congo or within the scope of inter-religious dialogue in Indonesia.
