WCC NEWS: WCC joins event exploring link between violence against children and climate change

Co-hosted by the End Violence Against Children Partnership, of which the World Council of Churches (WCC) is a member, the online event discussed common solutions to protect children, particularly girls, in the critical context of climate change. A girl carries firewood in Kunderpara, a village on an island in the Brahmaputra River in northern Bangladesh. Severe flooding in August 2017 eroded the bank of the river, washing away part of her farm. ICCO Cooperation, a member of the ACT Alliance, provided emergency food and seeds so that island families could replant their food crops and restart their lives. Photo:  Paul Jeffrey/ACT Alliance 17 March 2022 "As a result of climate change, more girls fleeing from floods and droughts are exposed to trafficking and sexual exploitation,” said WCC programme executive for Child Rights Frederique Seidel. "Churches are helping at all levels. From providing support to victims and addressing the root causes of the climate crisis, to advocating for climate-responsible finance, one of the most effective initiatives to stop the path described by the IPCC's Working Group 2 report,” concluded Seidel. Seidel offered a faith perspective on climate change, children's rights, and how faith communities have contributed to ending violence against children during the online event. The online event also discussed the systems and architecture that enable or impede the realization of child rights in the context of climate change. Connected agendas for a child-centred approach and an integrated response were offered as crucial steps to tackle the problem. "Climate Justice initiatives with and for Children" is the third pillar of the Churches' Commitments to Children programme. Several resources have been developed to help churches organize activities with children to protect our planet. Resources for churches to support initiatives for and with children and adolescents WCC's Engagement for Children Churches Commitments to Children action plan New WCC toolkit empowers churches to work with children and youth for climate justice WCC climate justice project wins Keeling Curve Prize See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 349 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 550 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC acting general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, from the Orthodox Church in Romania. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland