05.07.2023

Ecumenism and Human Rights

Anja Cours (left) and Sabine Schneider (right), informing about volunteer services, partnerships and the curren Human Rights Campaign. Photo by: Angelika Veddeler, UEM

This June, the "Kirchentag im Westen" (Church Day in the West of Wuppertal, Germany) took place again. Under the motto "The sun rises in the west", Protestant, Free Church and Catholic congregations in the west of Wuppertal invited people to a large and diverse ecumenical festival.

In keeping with the motto, the numerous visitors experienced a sunny weekend with a varied programme: church services, concerts, activities for adults and children, a colourful stage programme and numerous opportunities for encounters were very well received.

The UEM also presented its work at the Market of Opportunities together with other organisations and associations. The current human rights campaign is entitled "Deliver me from the hand of mine enemies and from them that persecute me!". It deals with the situation of people who defend human rights or are themselves affected by human rights violations. The UEM Communion sees it as its duty to stand by people who have been victims of injustice and violence. Therefore, the UEM supports projects and programmes that protect victims of human rights violations and defend human rights. 

Sabine Schneider, who helped run the UEM stand, experienced the day like this: "We were quite taken by the warming atmosphere of the Church Day! It almost seemed as if the sun had actually risen in the West that weekend.”