2nd Human Rights Working Group (PWG) Meeting
4 - 8 January, Hong Kong
The meeting is organized by the Asia Pacific Forum- Church World
Service (APF-CWS) and the General Board for Church and Society
(GBCS) of the United Methodist Church (UMC) and will be attended by
Churches and Ecumenical groups working on Human Rights issues on the
global and regional levels and doing lobbying work in the United
Nations. This year's meeting agenda will focus on the preparations
for the up-coming Universal Periodic Review of the Philippines at
the UN Commission on Human Rights this coming April in Geneva. WSCF
AP regional staff has been invited to take part in this initiative.
EASYNET Coordinating Team Meeting
7 - 9 January, Manila, Philippines
This is the annual meeting of the EASYNET Coordinating Team to
evaluate the programs in 2007 and to plan for the Asian Student
Youth Gathering (ASYG) in 2008. The meeting is also an opportunity
to know the situation of the National Ecumenical Teams (NETS) in 12
countries and share the activities of each member organization. This
year, WSCF AP will be the EASYNET Moderator following the
International Movement of Catholic Students (IMCS) turn in 2007. The
meeting will be attended by the regional representatives of the six
member organization comprising the EASYNET, namely; Asia Pacific
Alliance of YMCA, YWCA, IMCS, IYSC, CCA. WSCF AP regional staff will
attend this meeting.
WSCF AP Human Rights Committee Meeting
10 - 12 or 21 - 23 February, Bangkok, Thailand
This will be the first face-to-face meeting of the WSCF Human Rights
Committee after it was formed in June 2007.
The meeting will evaluate the programs in 2007 and discuss
follow-up plan for the WSCF Human Rights Program in the next two
years.
The HR Committee Meeting will bring together the 6 members of the HR
Committee, the HR Coordinator and Regional Secretary to develop the
WSCF AP Regional Human Rights Advocacy Framework and Campaign Plan
for 2008 and 2009. It
will also plan for the Student Conference on Internally Displaced,
Migration and Trafficking in 2008. The Advocacy and Campaign plan
produced by the meeting will be a guideline for national movements
in developing their Human Rights work in the national level in the
next two years. The planning workshop will also include studies on
the two thematic areas of the HRSP, meeting with groups and network
in involved in Trafficking, Internally Displaced, Political Asylum,
Migrants. Members of the HR Committee and regional staff will attend
this meeting.
WSCF Global Staff and Officers Meeting
13 - 20 February, Geneva, Switzerland
This is the annual staff meeting of the WSCF Global Team. The main
Agenda of this meeting is the detailed preparations for the upcoming
WSCF General Assembly in August, coordination of regional and global
plans, global fund-raising effort, leadership development.
WSCF - SCM Pakistan Joint Women's Program
6- 8 March, Lahore, Pakistan
This Programme will be hosted by SCM Pakistan on the theme Women and
Men in Partnership. 30 young women and men from SCM Pakistan will
participate in the said programme .The intent of the programme is to
accomplish the following objectives:
-
To ensure leadership and participation of young women in all levels and aspects of Church / student work from analytical approach to decision making and implementation process.
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To challenge and transform attitudes, structures and system in Church that limit young women's participation and leadership
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To highlight the issues concerning women's exploitation and oppression.
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To project a vision having a new society contributing the development and promotion of theology and cultural values from women's perspectives.
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To focus young women's concerns at national and local level and prioritize the struggle of young women against socio-political and economic violence.
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To study women's role for uplifting justice and peace.
CCA - WSCF Joint Program (CWP) Committee Meeting
March, Chiangmai, Thailand
(tentative)
The CWP Joint Committee will evaluate the joint activities done by
CCA and WSCF in 2007 and plan for future joint programs in 2008 and
2009. The Meeting will also be an opportunity to review the
long-standing partnership between the two organization and appoint
new replacements of the CWP Joint Committee. WSCF AP
representatives, Rev. Dr.
Roger Gaikwad (Chairperson), Nina Nayoan (Vice-chairperson)
and Necta Montes Rocas (Regional Secretary) will attend this
meeting.
WSCF Sub-regional Women's Program
May, South Asia
This is a 5 days programme will focus on the thematic area of
Women in war & Conflict
situation, HIV/AIDS and Poverty. 15 young women from the
national movements of Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka will
participate for the programme. For details of this program, you can
contact, Sunita Suna, WSCF AP Regional Women's Program Coordinator.
The Sub- Regional Women's Programmes are aimed to address the
challenging concerns women are confronted within the sub region in
today's context. i. e. the emerging trends of migration,
trafficking, women in war and conflict situation, prostitution,
HIV/AIDS and poverty, women's sexuality etc.
These issues/ challenges in the sub regions are similar and
interlinked to each other.
Hence this progrmme would create a platform for the women in
the sub regions to expose the realities and create awareness for
critical analysis of the problem; share concerns from their regions,
exchange ideas and plan of actions and forge networks with each
other. This would also help the participants to discuss from a
Christian faith perspectives .Besides, this programme would give an
exposure and live in experience opportunity with the women
experiencing these problems which is crucial for the WSCF women to
relate with the grassroots women and understand the issues to
critically analyze the emerging trends of women's concerns and
advocate on behalf of the voiceless.
WSCF AP Regional Human Rights Program
Student Conference
on Internally Displaced, Migration and Trafficking
June, Thailand (details to be
announced later)
The conference aims to study the situation of internally displaced,
migrants, asylum seekers and trafficked persons in the region,
especially among the young people; it also aims to provide students
with critical understanding on the global and regional perspective
of the issues, its impact on the life of people in the community; it
will also produce a platform of cooperation between student and
youth groups engaged and interested on migration issues. The
conference will bring together 25 young people from the SCMs and
groups engaged in advocacy and work among the people affected by
these issues. The program will include inputs and discussion on the
theme, UN and state mechanisms addressing the problem of migration,
trafficking and internally displaced, studies of the work done by
groups engaged in the advocacy of these issues, exposure and
integration will be arranged to see the actual condition and
situation of people. An action plan for WSCF and SCMs will be made
to take concrete actions to address.
Human Rights Internship Program on Trafficking, Migration in 2008
June (details to be announced
later)
The HR Intern will implement the action plan and recommendation of
the student conference on migration and trafficking and will work
directly with an NGO or People's Organization that concerns with the
issue. The Intern will work on the specific project proposed by the
Student Conference in partnership with the receiving organization
for three months. The objectives of the HRIP are: to provide
training opportunity for young people to learn and understand the
social, political, and economic and religious contexts of Migration,
Trafficking in the Asia Pacific context. To bring awareness of the
various forms and issues surrounding labour migration; learn from
the practical experience the actual work of movements and NGOs
involved in Migration campaign and advocacy work; to contribute the
interns skills and talent in the actual work of the receiving
organization; to build ties and implement communication and
solidarity with networks that work on migration.
Regional Women's Internship Programme
June, Bangkok, Thailand
One young woman from WSCF - AP will be selected for the 3months
Internship programme focusing on the issue of Migration and
Trafficking. The main objectives of the Internship Programme are:
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To provide the women SCMers an opportunity to enhance their skills and commitment towards women's issues and rights;
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Train women students and youth in developing knowledge and skills in the works of raising public awareness, advocacy, campaigning, networking and communication on women's issues;
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Transfer the learned and acquired knowledge and skills to other women students and youth in the SCMs, church groups, Non Government Organisation (NGO) and People's Organisation (PO) in the Asia Pacific region;
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Establish and strengthen women's work and networking between the SCMs, churches and various NGOs and POs in the Asia Pacific region;
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Strengthen the existing national women's programme in the SCMs.
WSCF RCM Pre-women's Meeting
23 - 25, July, Hong Kong
(tentative)
This meeting will be a vital place for the women leaders from the
national movements. The young women will critically evaluate the
women's programmes/ activities by sharing their concerns/
experiences and struggles while addressing the women's concerns in
their SCMs. They will bring their wisdom and skills to formulate/
strategise the programmes
for the next 3 years, which would strive us to achieve gender
justice in the region and transform our vision in to a reality. The
main objectives are:
-
To elect the new Regional
Women's Committee (RWC) members of WSCF - AP for the year
2008-2010
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To understand, share and
exchange information on the National Movements' women's issues
and the programmes/ activities developed in responding to the
issues
-
Strategize plans for
developing women's programmes in National Movements that do not
have any women's desk or regular women's programmes Path and
make the concrete suggestions to the direction of the Regional
Women's programme, in order to achieve our vision, mission,
goals and strategies for the next 3 year
WSCF AP 18th Regional Committee Meeting
26 - 29, July, Hong Kong
(tentative)
The WSCF AP Regional Committee (RC) is the highest policy making
body of the Federation in the Asia Pacific region.
The Meeting will be attended by
25 members, delegates from the affiliated and associated
movement of the Federation in Asia and the Pacific, the WSCF AP
Chairperson, Vice-chairperson, Exco Members and Regional Staff.
The RC will meet just a few days before the WSCF GA to
prepare for the GA and accomplish the objectives and function of the
RC. Please note that RC delegates will be the same as the national
movement's GA delegates.
The Regional Committee shall accomplish the following:
a)
review and assess the situations of the member movements of the
region in the context of the work of the Executive Committee and the
worldwide situation of the Federation;
b)
consider the ideas, problems and aspirations of the member movements
of the region;
c)
determine and review objectives, policies and priorities for the
region;
d)
devise the ongoing program of the region;
e)
recommend affiliation or association of the movements;
f)
coordinate the activities of the regional staff and national staff
within the region;
g)
prepare the regional budget to be submitted to the Executive
Committee;
h)
elect members of the Regional Standing Committee;
i)
elect regional representatives to the Executive Committee in
accordance to the Constitution of the WSCF; and
j)
decide on a date and venue for the next meeting of the Committee.
WSCF 34th General Assembly
Theme: "Your Sons and Daughters Shall Prophesy"
31 July - 10 August, Montreal, Canada
The 34th WSCF General Assembly
will take place from August 1 to 10,2008 at
College Jean de
Brebeuf, Montreal,
Quebec,
Canada. With the theme, "Your
sons and daughters shall prophesy (from the Book of the Prophet
Joel), the GA will gather together 150 delegates from its member
movements, officers and staff from over 100 countries worldwide.
The GA aims to accomplish the following objectives:
-
to call forth a new generation of ecumenical leaders,
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to gather students from around the world to share stories of God's work in their lives and their work in God's world,
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to re-envision the mission of the WSCF and its 105 national movements for the quadrennium to come,
-
to review and assess the situation of the member movements, the regions and the world-wide situation of the Federation.
The GA will be a space for bible study and theological formation,
women's and men's pre-assemblies, liturgy, music and prayer. The GA
will also be a time to select the leaders of the Federation and
identify its mission and thrust in the next quadrennium.
The assembly highlights a new approach in invigorating the
life of the GA with the formation of commission that will discuss
the following thematic areas: Raising prophets: Ecumenical
Leadership Formation Commission, Prophecy in action; Advocacy and
Solidarity Commission, Radical renewal; Biblical and Theological
Commission, Making the vision real: Capacity Building Commission.
For more information and details of the WSCF General Assembly,
please contact the WSCF Inter-regional office, Michael Wallace,
wscf.at.wscf.ch
WSCF Women's Sub-regional Program
August, Southeast Asia
This is a 5 days programme will focus on the thematic area of
Women, Migration and Trafficking.
15 young women from the national movements of
Cambodia, Indonesia,
Philippines, Thailand,
Timor Leste
would participate for the programme.
Student Empowerment for Transformation (SET) Program
Theme: "Young People Becoming Stewards of the Environmentâ€
August 28 - 2
September, Seoul, Korea
(tentative)
The SET Program will be attended by 20 participants from the
national movements. The same participants will also attend the ASYG.
The focus of the SET Program will be Young People Becoming Stewards
of the Environment .
The program aims to provide students with knowledge of the state of
the global environment, people's role as stewards of the
environment, teach concrete ways to contribute in the preservation
of natural resources and protection of the environment.
The program will be conducted in a camp, where students can
participate in the on a daily basis, they will also visit and
interact with environmental groups and NGO's working on specific
issues and advocacy to learn ways of advocate for the environment.
At the end of the program, an action plan will be developed to
recommend concrete actions for the SCM, WSCF and student communities
to consider.
3rd
Asian Student and Youth Gathering (ASYG)
Theme: "Youth Across
Boundaries…Redefining a Culture of Peace
3-9 September, Seoul, Korea
The 3rd ASYG will be a gathering of 150 young people from the six member organization of EASYNET,
namely: YMCA, YWCA, WSCF AP, IMCS, IYSC and CCA.
With the theme, "Youth
Across Boundaries, Redefining a Culture of Peace,†the
Gathering aims to achieve the following objectives:
-
To provide a framework for strengthening existing ecumenical cooperation at the local, national and regional level.
-
To engage the ecumenical youth to actively participate in the promotion of regional solidarity towards peace building, social justice and environmental protection.
-
Enhance the social awareness of the youth towards a more active and responsible participation in society.
-
To initiate interfaith conversation and create space for collaboration amongst Christian youth groups/organization in the region.
-
To provide a platform to challenge the youth to participate in promoting a culture of peace with a pluralistic perspective.
For registration and further information, please get in touch with
the EASYNET Coordinator, Wataru Arizumi, EASYNet easynet_pic.at.yahoo.com
WSCF Sub-regional Women's Program
October, Northeast Asia
This is a 5 days programme will focus on the thematic area of
Gender Sensitivity workshop and women's sexuality .
15 young women from the national movements of
Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong,
would participate in
the programme.
WSCF Global Program on Students and Higher Education
October, Finland
Focusing on the annual theme of "students"
and on questions and challenges of higher education, students from
Europe and from around the globe will gather in Finland in October
(postponed from May) for the WSCF Inter-regional conference, hosted
by the Europe Region and the SCM Finland. This conference will look
at the situations and issues facing students from a global
perspective, examining diverse approaches from the various regions
of the world and allowing for intercultural dialogue and exchange.
(excerpts from WSCF Europe 2008 Prospectus) IRO Office will send
the details, application form of this program. For further
information you may contact: Michael Wallace,
,
wscf.at.wscf.ch
Bossey Ecumenical Institute 2008
The Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, Switzerland is opening admissions for students and researchers for the following academic studies in year 2008. WSCF AP is inviting theology students who are active members of SCMs to apply for the Graduate School of Ecumenical Studies (one semester). A partial scholarship is provided by WSCF to successful applicants. For more information visit: www.bossey.ch (External link - opens in new window) about the courses. For further details about the WSCF partial support, please get in touch with the Regional Secretary.