Nine years ago, Svanberg served as an ecumenical accompanier. “As for so many ecumenical accompaniers, the experience meant a lot for me personally and what I chose to do moving forward,” he said. “I felt that it was a huge privilege to start working as a national coordinator at the Christian Council of Sweden in 2022.”
Bäcklund has been involved with the programme since from its inception as a pilot. “I was part of the steering group for the programme in Sweden,” she explained. She has also served as an ecumenical accompanier, in 2006 and 2007, an experience she described as “life-changing.” Bäcklund has worked in the Christian Council of Sweden for almost 20 years and, since 2019, has had the position as a national coordinator. Budget cuts The Swedish government has decided on new priorities for its development assistance cooperation in Palestine, as well as significantly cut its budget. The Christian Council of Sweden has had close dialogue with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency regarding the relevance of international protective presence and the churches’ contributions to peace and justice, especially at this critical moment for many vulnerable communities in the West Bank. However, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency has not prioritised the WCC Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme for Palestine and Israel in its portfolio. “There was a huge interest in the question of the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme for Palestine and Israel when news came out that the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency was not planning to continue its funding,” said Svanberg. “We received messages of support and questions about our future, from church and civil society partners, and from a large number of politicians.” Many parliamentarians had met with or received reports from ecumenical accompaniers, and the eyewitness stories meant a lot for the work of these policymakers. “Since December 2024, the question of the Swedish funding for the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme for Palestine and Israel has been brought up in eight separate parliamentary debates, including with the foreign minister Maria Malmer Stenergard and minister for development cooperation Benjamin Dousa,” said Svanberg. “Importantly, politicians from across the political spectrum have spoken to us about the the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme for Palestine and Israel, and the churches’ work for peace and justice at large being important.” The programme in Sweden has also seen support from civil society in Israel and Palestine. A number of partner organisations in the field submitted an op-ed in a major Swedish newspaper about how the effectiveness of their work with protective presence is also dependent on the professional experience of the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme for Palestine and Israel. Saying goodbye As they take their leave, Bäcklund and Svanberg do so with heavy hearts coupled with gratitude. “I feel blessed and grateful to have had the privilege to meet so many fantastic, skilled, and dedicated persons,” said Bäcklund. “The real privilege is to see this amazing range of people who want to dedicate their time and skills to this programme as ecumenical accompaniers, and how they are themselves transformed through the experience,” said Svanberg. “Like for myself, it is difficult not to become a lifelong advocate for peace and justice in Palestine and Israel after having been an ecumenical accompanier. I am proud that we as national coordinators have been a small part of that process.” Bäcklund added that the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme for Palestine and Israel is a long-lasting and proven model. “There is an almost unbroken chain of ecumenical accompaniers handing over to each other,” she said. “With that said, I have also seen that the programme has become more efficient and professional over time.” Now, added Bäcklund, other human rights organizations turn to the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme for Palestine and Israel for advice and education in how to practice effective and safe protective presence. “During the years the situation on the ground has worsened,” she said. “Ecumenical accompaniers are now witnessing more violence and hardships affecting the people they are accompanying.” This violent reality has also led to changes in the way the programme can operate, to make both ecumenical accompaniers and the persons they are accompanying, as safe as possible. As for what’s next, Bäcklund and Svanberg are still thinking about it. “I haven’t really accepted that we have to pause the programme when it is needed the most,” said Bäcklund. “But I am sure that I will carry on trying to contribute to making this world a better place. I just have to figure out how and in what capacity.” Svanberg is starting a period of parental leave with his now 10-month old son. “After that, the future is not yet clear,” he said. “However, it will definitely involve continued advocacy for justice and equality one way or the other.” Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel | 
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